Atak (mabior’s younger brother) mabior and Coach Luma at graduation.
Mabior graduated from college on Sunday.
Those of you who follow me on Facebook and Twitter know that I said this was my “proudest day ever”. It’s not an exaggeration. I am writing today to explain a little bit more about what this day meant—to me, to Mabior, and hopefully to you.
Mabior first appeared in my life in 2005. He was 15 years old and had been in the country for just a few months. His mother was dead and his father was too old to travel, so he was here with only his two brothers. He was shy—painfully shy—but he wanted to play soccer. I learned much later that Mabior had grown up playing in war-torn Southern Sudan with a ball made of socks, but at this point all I saw was a tall, quiet kid in a button down shirt and neatly pressed pants who was very politely asking me if he could try out for the Fugees. This soft-spoken boy turned out to be an incredible athlete and a natural leader—a person whose gentle persistence and strong drive to succeed led him through the maze of high school and eventually to a full soccer scholarship to Bellhaven University. Taking photos of him in his cap and gown with his professors, friends, and teammates on Sunday was such a moving experience. This moment that looked from the outside like any graduation day was a triumph against the odds. I credit Mabior. He credits the Fugees. In a note he gave me on his graduation day, he said, “I wouldn’t be where I am without my Fugees Family. I am just blessed to be surrounded with love and people who cares about lives of others.”
Like many recent graduates, Mabior is not sure of exactly what he will do next. But he has already proven himself in so many ways, including spending his summer breaks working at the Fugeees academic boot camp, mentoring younger kids, and giving them reason to believe that they too can make it.
I would like to say that nothing could tarnish the joy of Mabior’s graduation day. But I cannot say that, because there are too many of his original teammates who have not “made it” in the way that Mabior has. He and I both felt it as we caught up on the whereabouts of the kids with whom we’d both shared countless hours and a lot of hopes. Out of 15 boys in that group, only 4 are in college. Four. A few dropped out of high school, some are working to provide for children they have fathered, one is in jail, some just hang out all day because they can’t find work. These are not bad kids. But the public school system was not set up to help them, and even the best soccer and tutoring program in the world isn’t enough to fill the gaps. This is the hard lesson that Mabior’s team has taught me. This is why we need the Fugees Academy to get built as soon as possible.
Mabior’s success is remarkable, but it should not be the exception. In the coming years, I hope able to send emails about the five, ten, and twenty Fugees who are graduating from college—not just one here and there. I cannot stand to keep losing kids through the cracks in our system. I am doing what I can. Mabior is well on his way to doing what he can. Are you doing what you can? If so, we thank you. And if not, I hope you will donate today. We can’t do it without you.
Our faculty and board have written, edited, and approved a new mission statement for the Fugees Academy. It reflects a great deal of discussion and reflection, and we think it is a solid representation of who we are and why we do what we do.
Without further ado, I am proud to share our new mission statement with you:
Fugees Academy is an independent, community-based middle school emphasizing academic and character development of student-athletes. Through small classes, high expectations, and targeted instruction, Fugees Academy empowers the most vulnerable of students—child survivors of war—to become independent thinkers and high-achieving scholars. Working as a team both on and off the field, members of the Fugees Academy community strive to support each other while working to achieve individual goals. It is our belief that this team mind-set nurtures and prepares young adults who will be the next generation of international and community leaders.
Dear Friends,
It’s hard to believe that the school year is over, our summer camp is in full swing and the new school year starts August 7th. I would like to take this time to share with you a remarkable milestone for the Fugees. This fall our four graduating seniors will head to college, each of them the first in their families to do so. Even more impressive, these first generation college students received a combined $80,000 in aid and scholarship for the upcoming year. Recently, the entire Fugees Family gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of their Senior teammates, and to wish them well as they embark on their college careers. The graduates surprised us all with speeches; their words are still echoing in my ears as a reminder of why we do what we do. The boys all shared what it meant for them to have graduated high school and go on to college, something many of us take for granted. They all talked about how no one believed they could do it. But with the support of the Fugees they were able to achieve whatever they set their minds to.
One Fugee shared a copy of his speech; I am humbled to share it with all of you.
It would take more than a library to describe the deep appreciation and the sincerest gratitude I have for the Fugees. From the moment I joined the Fugees, it was clear that I would be pushed beyond my limits and that quitting wouldn’t be tolerated. The five years that I have spent kicking, sweating, running, walking, eating and at times giving the staff a hard time have been the greatest moments of my life, and as I look towards my future I can’t help but notice what a huge impact the team has had on me. Without the help of the Fugees Family, I would not have the confidence to start a conversation with anybody. I wouldn’t be able to trust anyone, and I wouldn’t even know how and where to go to college. The Fugees staff all gave so much time and energy to make sure I achieve everything that is possible. How you managed to bring a team of war-torn kids and get them to play as a family will be a question that I will ponder upon time and time again. Maybe one day I will know the answer. I will always keep this team at heart. It is a family like no other. I remember when Coach told me to keep my head up every time and I will always remember that wherever I go in life. Thank you Fugees for making an impact in my life.
Samuel from Sudan (South Georgia College), Raphael from Congo (Georgia Perimeter College, starting Spring 2012), Jonas from Burundi (Georgia Perimeter College), Gabriel from Cuba (Barry University) Yusuf from Afghanistan (Valparaiso University)
Please continue to make college a reality for all the Fugees by making a donation today. Can you spare $12 a month? This covers the cost of after-school tutoring for one student per week. Can you spare more? Even better. 4,000 people are receiving this email right now. If each of you take a moment to click here
and make a recurring monthly donation of any amount…well, let’s just say that next year’s graduation party will be even better.
Thank you again for making our work possible.
Coach Luma
P.S. Don’t forget to check that monthly donation box!
Watch. Share. Text
Babba
February 24, 2011
Comparison Contrast Essay
Let’s compare and contrast two best friends, Babba and Mahmoud, boys from different parts of the world, but ones who share the same world today.
Mahmoud, a tall skinny kid with black hair, who is from Iraq has two sisters, two brothers and lives in Clarkston Oaks. On the other side of Clarkston Oaks gate is Indian Valley Apartments where Babba lives.
Babba a tall and average kid with curly black hair who was born in Sudan but, raised in Ethiopia, has two brother and two sister and one uncle.
Babba and Mahmoud are Fugees. They go to the same school, and they are also in the same class. Babba is a day dreamer and a lazy worker while Mahmoud on the other hand is a serious person. He works hard and stays focused. One thing Babba likes to do is read Greek myth stories because he thinks their cool, but Mahmoud likes to read books about soccer.
Babba and Mahmoud are great soccer players. Babba plays for U-15 and Mahmoud plays for U-13. Babba plays forward and his job is to score a goal, but Mahmoud plays defense and his job is to clear the ball.
Babba likes to watch movies about soccer, fighting, adventures, murder and scary movies, but Mahmoud likes to watch movies about soccer. Mahmoud likes to play video games and chat on face book unlike Mahmoud Babba does not like to use computer a lot or chat with friends on face book, but he likes to play games on the computer and watch cartoon videos.
Babba and Mahmoud enjoy being friends. They are from different parts of the world, but they’re interested in sharing their cultures. They also want to share their friendship with everyone around the world.
It was my fifth month of being in this country, and I knew a little English on that bus that took me to the gym to play basketball. During that period of my life, I acted differently than I act now, after two and a half years of being here. Sometimes, I still act a little like how I did when I was new to the country.
When I got off the bus, I walked into a large gym and felt lost. I looked to the right and saw a bald headed man. He was the manager of the whole gym. I walked slowly straight at him and said nothing.
“Hi, how can I help you?” he asked. I just looked at him with no words coming out of my mouth. I had no clue what was he talking about with no hands movement to help me out. “Okay, what is your name sir?” he asked me this time.
“M-a-u-n-g S-a,” I answered as I spelled it for him. Then he started to look for a folder with my name on it.
“How old are you?” he asked.
“I’m fine,” I told him.
“Good, but how old are you?” he said slowly.
“Me is eleven,” I answered. We kept talking until the half time of the basketball game. Finally I was in the game, but I was nervous the whole time.
Two and a half years later, I was in an emergency room with a kid and an adult. I helped them both translate to the doctor because I now knew a lot of English. I told the doctor the problems, and she gave me a prescription for the medicine. Then I went to the pharmacy and got all the medicines.
Even though I have been in the country for two and a half years, I can still act the same as when I was new in this country. I still get lost sometimes although I can read the symbols to help me exit something. I also go to school just as I did when I was new, but did not know English yet. But now, the more I go to school, the more I learn something new. I strongly dislike to be absent unless I am very sick, which is the same as when I were new to this country and went to school. I can still be scared at any point just as when I was new.
Today, I am getting better at English, but I can still get a lot better at anytime. Sometime I might still get confuse, but I know will learn it after a day or a week. The more I go to school, the more I learn.
The Fugees on Bridging the Divide with Tom Brokaw
