Emmanuel Kutil
Age: 23
Region: Bentiu
I left home when I was almost eight years old. When was broke out in Sudan, I fled
my home, and my family members all ran in separate ways. I walked for three to
four months and stopped in Ethiopia. I traveled with about fifty people. my journey
was horrible; I can’t believe I survived. Most of us died because we were desperate
with little food and no water.
When we finally arrived in the Kakuma refugee camp, the skin on my feet was raw.
There were difficulties in Kakuma, too. Some people were scared to receive help
because they didn’t know who to trust. I knew hot to read and write some, but I
learned more once I was Kakuma. I was the on who wrote the letter to the United
Nations asking them to build a school in Kakuma, and they did! I was also able to
write a letter to my family with help from the IRC. I have six brothers and six sisters
still living in Sudan; they wrote me back a letter six years ago. I lived in Kakuma for
12-13 years before the U.N. helped me get to the United States.
In the U.S. everybody has rights. Here you were responsible for your self. There is
freedom but there are also consequences. Sometimes that’s hard because you could
face you challenges alone, but it’s also good because no one interrupts your life or
tells you what to choose.
I go to Phoenix College because I wanted to become a History teacher. When I was in
Africa, I learned a bit to help my people. My main goal isn’t about a job, it’s about
going to school so I can make my goal of becoming a teacher. I’d like to make a
difference here and in Sudan for now and for the future.