Cola Bilkuei

Fascinating true story of how in 1987, 10 year old Cola Bilkuei was taken from his village in Sudan by his older brother and forced to join the child soldiers of the SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army). After two years of enduring starvation, beatings and seeing people murdered in front of him for disobedience, Cola escaped and started an amazing journey that took him through six African countries despite having no money, no passport or papers and very little education. Eventually, some 14 years after his ordeal began, he was accepted for refugee status in Australia. As a person who has read nothing but negative reports regarding the Sudanese refugees in Australia (i.e. that their horrific ordeals have left them desensitized and prone to crime), this book was very enlightening and refreshing in that Cola has tried to educate young Sudan in Australia to work hard and accept the morals and rules of this country. I think it would be incredibly interesting to see what impact this book would have on a class if it were studied, and how it would change the students' pre-concevieved notions of the Sudanese. Highly recommended.… (meer)