Jany Deng - Program Manager

My name is Jany Deng. I was born on March 15, 1975 in a small town called Jokau, which is located in Southern Sudan. I was born before the civil war broke out in Sudan. I had a very normal lifestyle living with my full family which was my father, brothers and sisters. I was raised very much by my father since my mother passed away when I was only 6 years old.

When the civil war broke out in 1987 my life changed completely. I was only 10 years old and I didn’t have a lot of choices about what to do. I had to do what was necessary at that time in order for me to survive the bombing. When I saw the first fire in my village I knew that I couldn’t go back there because I would not survive. So, I just started walking, not knowing where I was going. I was hoping I would be safe but I didn’t know for sure what was ahead of me.

I walked for miles to the border of Ethiopia. It was there that I was resettled in a refugee camp where I stayed for almost four years. During the walk, I didn’t have anything to eat or drink. I walked for four months before I got help from the United Nations refugee camp. Then in Ethiopia, they themselves had civil war. Because of this, we were forced to go back to Southern Sudan. When we got to Sudan, there wasn’t anything there to eat or too survive on. I started to walk again toward the Kenya border. The Kenya government did not want us at first so the United Nations had to relocate us. Later on, the Kenya government changed their mind and we were resettled in the refugee camp there. Again, there was not enough food to eat. The United States government decided if anybody in this world was tired, hopeless and poor it was us and they called us the Lost Boys of Sudan.

I was one of the first ones to come the United States of America. I have been here since 1995. When I came to America I was 16 years old. They put me immediately in school and it was different from where I was coming from. I graduated from high school and I went to the community collage and graduated with my Associate Degree. I graduated from Arizona Statue University with my degree in Social Work. Meanwhile, I am working full-time at AZ Lost Boys Center as Program Manager. I oversee what the Boys need in the way of employment, counselor Manage volunteer and many other activities. For example, I manage the AZ Lost Boys soccer team and the basketball team. All events involving the Center are managed by me. I make sure that everything is organized before the event takes place. I have been involved with the Lost Boys Center for five years. First as a volunteer helping with the planning of the Center and now working full-time as a staff member.

I am a marathon runner I done the Boston Marathon and other many Marathon. I had a great time in Boston and have so many wonderful memories. Hopefully, I will be able to run again in this marathon someday. In February 14, 2010, I will be running in the Lost Dutchmen Marathon. We are looking for runners, joggers and walkers to help support the AZ Lost Boys Center. We will have wonderful time and would like to invite everyone to join us in February. My dream is to eventually run in the Olympics representing the United States.

To contact Jany Deng by e-mail: jdeng@azlostboyscenter.org.