Darfur survivor tells his story at SHU
Stephanie Sakellarides
Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: News
El Fadel Arbab escaped the horrors of Darfur by climbing in a tree to hide from the militia.
Many people are unaware of the war that is going on in Darfur, Sudan. For six years, the people of the Sudanese desert have been attacking one another in hopes of eliminating the other.
Tonight at 7 p.m. in the Schine Auditorium, the students of the Multicultural Education class and Residential Life will help spread awareness on the effects of the war on Darfur by telling Arbab's story.
"I hope students will be more aware of the genocide in Darfur after hearing [El-Fadel] a survivor of the genocide," said Kempton. "I hope students will talk and organize to support relief efforts for Darfur."
As a young boy of twelve, Arbab's village was attacked and he was separated from his family. He escaped from the militia and for the next 10 years traveled all over Sudan, grabbing food and shelter wherever he could find.
"El Fadel's story is so unbelievable, inspiring and profound," said junior Danielle M. Chacra, one of the event's organizers.
Now living in Portland, Maine, Arbab has learned to speak English, works two jobs to support his family, and is taking his story on the road to share with everyone. Still worried about his father and other siblings who still remain in Darfur, Arbab hopes to spread awareness of the war to save them and others in Darfur.
According to most news reports, about 450,000 people have been killed and 3,000,000 have been relocated to other villages.
"It's mind-blowing to believe that someone could live through these hard times and live to tell the tale," said junior Kelly Martin, a psychology major. "I can't imagine all the emotional, psychological damage it must have caused him."
According to Dr. Lauren Kempton, a multicultural professor who has organized this event, the war in Darfur started as a conflict between rival groups the Janjaweed (the devil on horseback) and the black African tribes, such as El-Fadel Arbab's tribe, the Fur tribe.
"The genocide is very complicated, but it is mostly about land and resources," said Kempton.
Kempton encourages students to get involved and help by organizing a letter writing to Obama, organize a solar cooker fundraiser, join a local Darfur Facebook or MySpace group, and support relief efforts. Last year Kempton's class raised $1,000 to purchase solar cookers for Darfur.
"The war on Darfur is still going on," says Chacra, "and I think it is important to spread awareness on what is actually going on right now as well as share with Sacred Heart El Fadel's incredible story."
Many people are unaware of the war that is going on in Darfur, Sudan. For six years, the people of the Sudanese desert have been attacking one another in hopes of eliminating the other.
Tonight at 7 p.m. in the Schine Auditorium, the students of the Multicultural Education class and Residential Life will help spread awareness on the effects of the war on Darfur by telling Arbab's story.
"I hope students will be more aware of the genocide in Darfur after hearing [El-Fadel] a survivor of the genocide," said Kempton. "I hope students will talk and organize to support relief efforts for Darfur."
As a young boy of twelve, Arbab's village was attacked and he was separated from his family. He escaped from the militia and for the next 10 years traveled all over Sudan, grabbing food and shelter wherever he could find.
"El Fadel's story is so unbelievable, inspiring and profound," said junior Danielle M. Chacra, one of the event's organizers.
Now living in Portland, Maine, Arbab has learned to speak English, works two jobs to support his family, and is taking his story on the road to share with everyone. Still worried about his father and other siblings who still remain in Darfur, Arbab hopes to spread awareness of the war to save them and others in Darfur.
According to most news reports, about 450,000 people have been killed and 3,000,000 have been relocated to other villages.
"It's mind-blowing to believe that someone could live through these hard times and live to tell the tale," said junior Kelly Martin, a psychology major. "I can't imagine all the emotional, psychological damage it must have caused him."
According to Dr. Lauren Kempton, a multicultural professor who has organized this event, the war in Darfur started as a conflict between rival groups the Janjaweed (the devil on horseback) and the black African tribes, such as El-Fadel Arbab's tribe, the Fur tribe.
"The genocide is very complicated, but it is mostly about land and resources," said Kempton.
Kempton encourages students to get involved and help by organizing a letter writing to Obama, organize a solar cooker fundraiser, join a local Darfur Facebook or MySpace group, and support relief efforts. Last year Kempton's class raised $1,000 to purchase solar cookers for Darfur.
"The war on Darfur is still going on," says Chacra, "and I think it is important to spread awareness on what is actually going on right now as well as share with Sacred Heart El Fadel's incredible story."
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