This is Part 2 of a 5-part series of stories told from the perspective of refugee children. The stories are based off the lives of actual refugee children, but names and some details have been changed for privacy. The mission of Abba’s House is to welcome children like these into our care. Scripture quotations are NIV.
Luka’s Story (South Sudan)
I am a 12-year-old boy from the Nuer tribe of South Sudan. Since the civil war in South Sudan started five years ago, millions of people have been forced from their homes and tens of thousands of people have been killed. I lost both of my parents in the war. I now live as an orphan in a refugee camp for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP)—people who have been forced from their homes but are still living within the borders of their home country.
I’m not allowed to leave the camp for fear of my safety. The camp is crowded with thousands of simple tents just like mine. One of the few highlights of my life in the camp is school. If it weren’t for the school, my life would feel meaningless. Education will open opportunities for orphans like me to one day get a job to support siblings and relatives. I keep praying for the day when the war will end and we can finally return home.
Facts about South Sudanese refugees in IDP camps:
- At the end of April 2018, there were 1.76 million South Sudanese in IDP camps.
- Over 45,000 children are enrolled in a school.
- Some South Sudanese living in IDP camps have returned home.
The mission of Abba’s House is to provide a safe place for refugee families to find restoration and recovery from trauma. “When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet” – Proverbs 3:24.
The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. – Psalm 146:9
Abba's House 