Tarir Dak was born in 1991 in Leer County, Southern Sudan. This is the most recent photo his family have of him.

He started his primary education at the Leer primary school, the very same school that Gua Africa is now renovating and extending in Phase 1 of our Emma Academy Project. Tarir reached standard two, but was forced to stop in 2000 when war broke out in the area. Many people were killed at this time including his father, and all his relatives fled in different directions. He was just eight years old.

Tarir followed the people who were running for their lives and by good fortune he met his elder brother on the way. Being young he could not walk as fast as the older boys, so his brother had to keep encouraging him whenever he felt he could not go any further. They crossed the River Nile using boats and there after they walked on foot for several months eating only fruits from the forest. Finally they reached the Sudan/Kenya border.

They managed to cross the border and reach Lokichoggio where they were received by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). Like thousands of others, they were registered by the UNHCR and taken to the Kakuma Refugee Camp. In year 2001 Tarir was enrolled in the Camp Primary School and sat his Primary Certificate in 2008, where he scored 380/500 marks, the highest in the whole district.

Since he attained such good marks he was called to join a National School in Kenya, but sadly he had no-one to help fund him. Several months ago the UNHCR closed down all the schools in the camp, in a bid to speed up the repatriation process. Tarir is appealing for your support so that he can complete his education and perhaps follow his dream of becoming a doctor and returning to help people in his homeland.

Gua believes this young boy deserves a chance to complete High School, having shown his great potential and commitment through his achievements to date. He is currently in Kitale, Kenya awaiting the funds to attend the local School which has offered him a place. Tarir's total fees and personal expenses will cost just $680/£440 per year. If you are interested in supporting him please email ruth@gua-africa.org