Founder, James Mabior

My name is James Mabior.  I was born in the village of Werkok, in the region of Bor, in Jonglei State S. Sudan. I am lucky to be alive today because when I was a young boy, my life was so brutal I can’t believe that I am still here today.  I and many thousands of others fled our villages as the military from the north of Sudan raided and killed.  I found out later that my father, one brother, and one sister were not as lucky as I am and they didn’t escape the tragic war with their lives.  My mother is in Sudan and my brother and many from my extended family.  At the age of six I set out on foot on a long journey which took me and my Sudanese brothers over a thousand miles to neighboring countries for a life in refugee camps where I was provided with some education and life experiences.
Today I live in Vermont, where I have finished high school and am currently studying business at Johnson State College.  I spend my free time working on the Werkok Youth Development Association (WYDA) because it is my mission to help my people back home.  There are many people supporting our work at WYDA and I am thankful that this is growing.  
To read more about James' life, click here.