Imagery for Foundation/Organization Project

Ryan Steed
DM240—
Zark Strasburg
Monday, September 29, 2008


The Valentino Achak Deng Foundation

About the Organization—
The Valentino Achak Deng Organization is a non-profit organization designed to help rebuild a peaceful and prosperous future for a war affected Sudanese people. The mission of the foundation is to help aid southern Sudanese diaspora in the U.S. to enhance educational, social, and economic opportunities. The goal is also to rebuild community driven development projects and to create educational opportunities for women, children, and men in southern Sudan. And to also, finally improve US policy towards Sudan by educating the public on current situations of crisis in the Sudan. The foundation was formed in 2006 by the funds and sales of Dave Eggers’ book, “What is the What,” which is the story of Valentino. The first major project of the foundation was an educational center in Valentino’s hometown, Marial Bai. It was a construction project that worked with the local community to build a large complex for education consisting of a twelve-classroom secondary school, training college for teachers, public library, sports facility and community center.

My Image—
Is conceptually about the walking the Lost Boys of Sudan like Valentino did. I went to his book reading last year and he spoke of following the line of footsteps he and the other boys left. I have never forgotten what he said, and the words of his story. My image is based on following a footstep. The image is leaving, and moving forward, walking for a change, and leaving your own mark.

From the preface of “What is the What”—
I was just a young boy when the twenty-two-year civil war began that pitted Sudan’s government against the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army. As a helpless human, I survived by trekking across many punishing landscapes while being bombed by Sudanese air forces, while dodging land mines, while being preyed upon by wild beasts and human killers. I fed on unknown fruits, vegetables, leaves and sometimes went with nothing for days. At many points, the difficulty was unbearable. I thought the whole world had turned blind eyes on the fate that was befalling me and the people of southern Sudan. Many of my friends, and thousands of my fellow countrymen, did not make it. May God give them eternal peace.