Gor Ayen, a village in Aweil North County, Northern Bahr Al Ghazal State, is the home of Francis Bok, the author of "Escape from Slavery,The True Story of My Ten Years in Captivity and My Journey to Freedom in America" who was abducted into slavery at age seven. He recently returned for the first time to the site in Gor Ayen where his family was killed. "The adults and children of Gor Ayen have one request, 'Help us build a school.' I told them that I would go back to America and find the friends who will help them get the supplies they need to build the school. This is a big goal, but I know that together we can do it," says Francis. "As a slave, I was deprived of an education.
Most of the children in Gor Ayen have just recently returned after being displaced by the 22-year long war between Northern and Southern Sudan which ended with a peace treaty in 2005. Victims of war, these children have not had access to education, and they are determined to make up for lost time.
But the children of Gor Ayen have no school building. Currently grades 1-6 meet in the shade of six different trees. Grade 7 meets in a dilapidated frame that holds a few palm branches for shade. During the rainy season, the 13 volunteer teachers and three paid teachers have to cancel school for their 320 pupils. The first priority of the people of Gor Ayen is to build a school for their children. Town leaders have begun to make bricks, and all the townspeople have pledged to donate their labor.
"I want our school in Gor Ayen to be a starting point for reconciliation. This school will not be only for Southerners but for Darfurian children as well. This school will be a living demonstration of the value of cooperation among people of different tribes, regions and religions. As education opens a new future for the children, it will also deepen their understanding and respect for one another.
I was once a slave. But the slavery of hatred and tribalism is the worst slavery of all. I want to help set free the people of Sudan, and I believe the way to do that is education." - Francis Bok