Many of the Sudanese at Southern Sudanese Community of Washington’s (SSCW) annual fundraiser the were part of the “lost boys,” a group of survivors who overcame starvation, marauding Islamic death squads and displacement to begin new lives in the United States and are now fighting for human rights.

Machot Lat, the executive director and co-founder of SSCW, described his initial frustrations as a newcomer in an American public school because of the language barrier. Lat came to the United States at the age of 14. He attended Franklin High School and later the University of Washington.

Lat stressed the need for volunteers and funding to help the SSCW finish its work.

“We need volunteers and connections to other organizations,” he said.

The African Assistance Project, the name of SSCW’s annual fundraising event, took place July 13 to raise awareness and financial support for domestic and foreign aid programs in the local Sudanese community.

The event, which included drumming, traditional attire, dance and refreshments, was held at the UW’s Ethnic Cultural Center. The SSCW, a nonprofit organization that helps people from Southern Sudan transition into American life, was founded in 2003 when the first group of refugees arrived in the United States.

About 60 individuals participated in the event and watched a 20-minute segment of the film God Grew Tired of Us, a documentary detailing the Sudanese conflict that forced tens of thousands of refugees to flee into neighboring countries, such as Ethiopia and Kenya, to escape the bloodshed in their homeland.

Lat spent three years bringing the rest of his family to the United States. He said much needs to be done to help those who are still suffering.

Sunday’s gathering revealed SSCW’s major accomplishments but also illustrated the substantial amount of work left in helping Sudanese immigrants to obtain education and employment in Washington state.

Cara Anderson-Ahrens, the education director for SSCW, told the crowd about family support, education and the African Assistance Project, three of the services the SSCW provides.

“We have a small staff but a really dedicated staff of people who work very hard and get inspired every day,” Anderson-Ahrens said. “Our goal is make sure that students don’t fall behind in schools.”

Anderson-Ahrens stressed the importance for volunteer tutors to continue participating with SSCW and implored the crowd to ask veteran volunteers about their experiences.

Mawut Mayen, a recent UW graduate with a degree in economics, spoke about his life as a former “lost boy.”

“This organization was created to help [the] Sudanese,” Mayen said. “We had difficult times when we came here. It was hard to assimilate.”

Mayen was forced to leave Sudan when he was 4 years old. Separated from his parents, he fled with his brother to Ethiopia. Unrest and conflict in Ethiopia forced Mayen to leave again and travel to Kenya, where he lived in a refugee camp for eight years.

“I was lucky enough to come [to America],” Mayen said. “The United Nations handpicked me out of a pool of 2,000 to resettle. My parents didn’t know I was alive.”

Mayen’s brother stayed behind in Africa. When Mayen was able to work, he sent $100 to his brother to search for their parents. Mayen’s brother found their parents, and they were reunited after 16 years.

“You can take my number if you want to know the whole story,” Mayen jokingly told the audience. “I can write a book for you, although I would not sell it — I would give it to you for free.”

To learn more about the SSCW

visit http://sscw.org.