"I want to commend Lopez Lomong, a Sudanese-born U.S. Olympian, and the Darfurian Students Association for their continued efforts to build reconciliation between Muslims and Christians in Sudan. Lopez Lomong’s latest endeavor is to partner with Darfurian Muslims and Christians to build a church in his home town in Southern Sudan. These type of efforts to build peace and understanding between Muslims and Christians should serve as an example for the world to emulate." - Kansas Governor Samuel Brownback
Lopez Lomong was six years old when he and other children were taken from their families at gun-point in his home village of Kimotong, Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan. One of the Lost Boys of Sudan, Lopez came to the U.S. at age 16 in 2001, and became a US citizen in 2007. When Lopez returned to his home village for the first time in 2006, he viewed the devastation from the 22 year war between north and south Sudan.
The Kimotong Primary School currently has four classrooms. Only two of the classrooms can be used due to continual flooding during the long rainy season that lasts from May through October. To help the school in Kimotong, Lopez is raising funds to do the following:
- Install a stone lined channel, storm water barriers, and gutters for rain water harvesting at the existing school (Cost - $14,630);
- Build 4 additional classrooms (Cost - $75,000).