The Lost Girl

During a two-decade-long civil war in her country, soldiers from Northern Sudan attacked Nyanwuor Duop’s village and she was forced to flee along with thousands of other children. She walked for days from the Sudan to a refugee camp in Kenya facing starvation, disease, and wild animals. In 2004, Nyanwuor was finally given asylum in the United States. She dropped out of school in 10th grade to get married and go to work. She now has a 16 months old child, Alier, that her husband Peter takes care of during the day while Nyanwuor works at a private daycare center. Despite their immediate financial struggles, Nyanwuor and Peter continue to send money to Sudan and Kenya to help their family and friends. She also travels around Texas advocating for Sudanese refugees and spreading awareness of the continuing situation in the Sudan. Nyanwuor dreams of one day returning to her country; she wants Alier to see the beautiful and peaceful Sudan, where she was born.