Many of us will never know the true feeling of hunger or struggle. Manyang Reath Kher knows both feelings very well but has shown what can grow out of such struggle. He was four years old when he was displaced from his home and family. He was born in Sudan which had dealt with a civil war for many years. His father died because of the conflict, and he was also separated from his mother and sister, becoming one of the ‘Lost Boys’ of Sudan. He spent the next 13 years of his life living in different refugee camps located along the Sudan-Ethiopia border.
His story of transitioning from living as a refugee to coming to the United States at the age of 17 is inspiring and opens your eyes to just how capable a person can be. Getting to America was no easy feat for Kher. He had to go through many interviews, medical exams, and find a group to sponsor him. All without speaking any English. He found a sponsor in Commonwealth Catholic Charities and after five years was able to move to Richmond Virginia in 2005.
When he came to the United States, he did not speak any English and had no real education. He was able to find people who looked after him, and he even joined his high school track team, which he says helped him to acclimate to culture in America. So far, this story is only miraculous because of Kher’s transition out of a horrible situation and ability to move on to America. Kher defied odds by not only finishing high school but also received a college degree in International Relations.
He used this degree to start an organization called Humanity Helping Sudan Project, that hosts events to promote refugee awareness through different churches, schools, universities, and other partnerships. The newest way he is raising awareness? Through something, he’s calling 734 Coffee. It is a refugee-owned coffee company that connects with growers in Gambella who employs South Sudanese refugees which gives them both a sense of purpose and a paycheck. The paychecks allow the refugees to have money to raise chickens, create fishing nets, and grow crops. 734 refers to the geographical coordinates of Gambella.
Kher gives insight to how widespread the refugee issue is saying that there are over 60 million people who are displaced and 2.25 million people in South Sudan alone without a home. This is Kher’s way to give back. He says the whole purpose of 734 coffee is to tell the story of the refugee crisis and provide hope for prosperity for Sudanese refugees. He wants to gain more exposure for his company so that it will reach a broader audience and bring awareness to the refugee issue, particularly in Sudan. Kher has truly risen above his circumstances and shown what one can do when provided with the right support. He has faced poverty, hunger, and extreme danger and overcame it, and then went further to help his fellow refugees.
Watch His Story Below!
Video Courtesy: YouTube via American Red Cross (www.youtube.com)
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Source: MSN
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