Mangok: A Family Reunited

At just ten years old, Mangok was forced to flee his home in South Sudan due to violence and was separated from his family amongst the chaos. After years of unimaginable hardship and rebuilding his life in the U.S., tragedy struck again—his brother and sister-in-law were killed, and their young children were kidnapped.

Determined to reunite with his family, Mangok embarked on a nearly decade-long journey filled with heartbreak and hope to find his nieces and nephews, supported by RefugePoint.

In 1987, at ten years old, Mangok was forced to flee his home in South Sudan and became separated from his parents during a militia attack. He became one of the 20,000+ “Lost Boys,” walking hundreds of miles to safety.

After surviving 13 years in refugee camps, Mangok was resettled to the U.S. in 2001, where he rebuilt his life, earned multiple degrees, and started a career at Brandeis University.

But in 2014, tragedy struck again. A raid on his village claimed the lives of his brother and sister-in-law, and four of their seven children—Mangok’s nieces and nephews—were kidnapped.

Despite impossible odds, Mangok flew to South Sudan to find them. With help from RefugePoint and others, he located three of the children but faced a long, grueling process to reunite them.

In 2021, Mangok’s niece, Ajoh, and three nephews, Thon, Magot, and Makuei, were connected with RefugePoint in Nairobi, Kenya. Our resettlement team worked closely with them, guiding them through the U.S. resettlement process. After thorough interviews, assessments, and advocacy, the children received life-changing news in October 2023: their resettlement application was approved!

This September, Mangok was finally reunited with his family in Boston.

Today, his nieces and nephews are thriving, surrounded by opportunities to rebuild their lives. Yet, countless families like Mangok’s remain separated, waiting for their chance to reunite.

At any given time, RefugePoint’s Resettlement Experts are helping refugees in over 35 countries, giving thousands the opportunity to find safety and rebuild. Your support makes this work possible.