John S Hopkins

A Child Escapes is a story of Francis Deng's journey from civil war to civic pride. 

Taken from his village and family aged nine years, Francis Deng experienced the deprivations and dangers as a Boy Soldier during the brutal civil war that ravaged South Sudan. A conflict that saw the death of his mother, sisters and a brother. In the book Francis tells the story of his journey through these horrific experiences, the opportunities he was able to seize, and his effort and determination to build a new, positive and rewarding life in his adopted country. It is a story of heartbreak, determination, opportunity and will. It is also a story of Francis giving back to his new country, of his work with troubled Sudanese youth in Australia.

Francis has written of his experiences in the war zones of South Sudan, the refugee camp/s, and of his work in Australia. His story is an important and inspirational record.

The funding project is to enable Francis’ story to reach a wider audience. Funding is sought to prepare the manuscript for publication through professional editing and design, and to facilitate its distribution in print and later as an ebook. Plus covering production costs for printing and mailing pledge rewards to meet the base funding target.

Stop the presses – a South Sudanese success story! Really?

Many young boys suffering extraordinary deprivation as a forced child-soldiers during South Sudan’s brutal civil war. Francis Deng was one – his physical suffering magnified by the murder of his parents, brother and sisters. Miraculously, Francis made it to a refugee camp, where an Australian diplomat saw potential.

Safe in Australian Francis restarted his education, several years later graduating from Wollongong University. Today, Francis contributes productively to his adopted country through his employment. He also contributes by helping those within the South Sudanese community who find the transition challenging – most recently as Secretary of the South Sudanese Support Group.

Francis’ harrowing story as a child-soldier, his redemption through the opportunity Australia offered, his contribution to his adopted country, and his support of those within this community facing challenges is important and gripping. It is a story that needs to be told.

A crowd-funding project to help transform that story from a raw manuscript into a printed volume and eBook is at https://www.pozible.com/project/a-child-escapes. The crowd funding project also offers sponsorship of Francis telling his story in person.

Budget

The budget is intended to cover costs of editing and publishing the book.  We need $8,000 plus the cost of printing and distributing the books.

The editing will need $6,500.00

The publishing will need $1,500.00

A stretch goal is to find a further $1,500 for elctronic publishing.

A second stretch goal is for any further money to contribute to Francis' work with the Teenagers in the South Sudanese community.