Gabriel Bol Deng Speaks on South Sudan Visit @ Fairfield Library, Tues. March 18

Gabriel Bol Deng returns to Fairfield Library to share his most recent experiences in South Sudan, where he continues to work amidst the volatility of conflicts in the region. Gabriel, a former "Lost Boy" of Sudan, has inspired and warmed the hearts of Fairfielders in recent years when he has come to share his experiences with schools and community groups.

Gabriel heads the Hope for Ariang project which he founded to bring education to his home village. He believes education is critical to achieving a lasting peace and sustainable development in South Sudan. Join us for his talk on Tuesday, March 18 at 7:00 pm in the Memorial Room at the Main Library, 1080 Old Post Road. A meet and greet reception with Gabriel will follow his talk. Registration is requested.

At the age of 10, Gabriel fled his village of Ariang after it was attacked by North Sudan militiamen. He took a harrowing, 4-month journey across the Nile and the desert with boys like himself to reach a refugee camp in Ethiopia. Four years later unrest forced him to travel on foot again to another refugee camp in Kenya. Gabriel spent 10 years of his life in refugee camps. It was there that he received education and realized its transformative powers. Gabriel came to Syracuse, New York in 2001 under the United States Refugee Resettlement Program. Since that time he has received a bachelor's degree, married and become a father. He did not forget the need in Sudan and returned to his home village in 2007 and founded Hope for Ariang.

Hope for Ariang has been able to drill six wells in Ariang and a neighboring village. Wells provide clean water to the villages, but also make it possible for girls to attend school instead of spending most of the day fetching water. A school building was completed in Ariang in 2011, now the focus is on educating teachers, providing learning materials and adult education.

All programs at the Fairfield Public Library are free. To register, or for more information on this and other events, visit us online at www.fairfieldpubliclibrary.org or call 203-256-3160.