2024-08-11
25 分钟At the age of 11 in 1985, Salva Dut was separated from his family by the Sudanese civil war. After a decade moving between different refugee camps, and presumed an orphan, Salva was recommended for resettlement in the United States as part of a UN-backed programme to support some 4,000 so-called 'lost boys' who'd been displaced by conflict. Salva settled with a host family in Rochester, New York. But when he was in his late 20s, he found out that his father was in fact still alive. Salva travelled back to Sudan to find him. His father was in a clinic and sick with a waterborne disease. Salva decided to try to bring clean water to his home village. A few years later, he established an NGO, Water for South Sudan, and he returned to his birthplace to drill his first well. Presenter: Mobeen Azhar Producer: Jo Impey Get in touch: liveslessordinary@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp: 0044 330 678 2784 (Photo: Salva Dut drilling for water; Credit: Water for South Sudan, Inc)
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The first time I landed in Nairobi, just the air by itself, it flashed back the whole memories that I left behind.
It feels so good, just the air alone.
And I said, in my heart it's real.
I'm coming back.
Salvad's return to Africa at The age of 27 was long awaited.
On the previous episode, we heard how Salva had been separated from his family at the age of 11, when Civil War reached his village in southern Sudan and his remarkable journey for survival.
I'd recommend listening to that before you get to this episode, which is the second part of Salva's story.
You're listening to Lives Less Ordinary from the BBC World Service.
Now we're rejoining Salva at the age of 27.
He's built a life for himself in Rochester, New York, and he's just received a letter that's about to change his life.
His cousin has written to tell him that his father is in fact still alive and he's walked 200 miles to reach a clinic in Sudan.
Take me back to the moment where you're sitting with the letter in your hand and for the first time in more than a decade, you have confirmation here that your father is alive.
What was going through your mind?
My mind was going wild how to get there.