Abstract
In recent years, changes in the nature of warfare have increased the risks for children. In the decade 1986–1996, UNICEF (1996) estimates that two million children were killed in wars and one million orphaned or separated from their parents. Statistics on the total number of children separated from their parents are lacking, but in 2003, 12,800 unaccompanied refugee children applied for asylum in developed countries—4 % of total asylum applicants (UNHCR, 2004). These children, living without the support and protection of adults, are a particularly vulnerable group (Hepburn, Williamson, & Wolfram, 2004). Occasionally, it is deemed in the best interest of children without adult support (known as separated or unaccompanied children) to resettle them in another country, especially when their parents are deceased or untraceable and they are unlikely to return to their own country because of continuing conflict. Such was the case for a group of youth known in the media as the “Lost Boys” of Sudan.
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Notes
- 1.
Of the 89 minors resettled in our area, over 80 % had completed high school by the time they left the support of the foster care agency. Of the 19 youth interviewed in 2007, 100 % had completed high school, and 84 % were pursuing higher education.
- 2.
Of the youth resettled in Lansing, less than 10 % were female, and all were resettled minors. Five females participated in our data collection about early adjustment and three were interviewed about their experiences in foster care.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge our project leader, Dr. Tom Luster, who passed away in 2009. We also thank all of the young men and women who have shared their experiences with us over the past 10 years.
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Bates, L., Johnson, D.J., Rana, M. (2013). Pathways of Success Experiences Among the “Lost Boys” of Sudan: A Case Study Approach. In: Fernando, C., Ferrari, M. (eds) Handbook of Resilience in Children of War. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6375-7_13
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