South Sudanese Refugee Children's Foundation

Mission Statement

South Sudanese Children’s Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to improving the general social well-being of the children from South Sudan by building schools, providing educational resources, basic health care, food and shelter.

Meet The Staff

. Digol Gak Deng: Founder & President

. Yar Ajack: Vice President

. Sharon Williams: Secretary

. Shirley Felder: Treasurer

Digol Deng was born in Southern Sudan in the town of Nasir as a member of the Nuer tribe. The Nuer is known in Sudan as the warrior people, and is one of the largest tribes in Sudan. In 1984, Digol was displaced by the Sudanese civil war and fled to Northern Sudan, where he completed high school in Arabic in 1992.


In 1993, Digol made has way to Egypt to pursue his education. Unfortunately, it all came to a holt when the Sudanese government cancelled all of the student scholarships. Due to this cancellation, the government required that the students return to back to Southern Sudan to fight in the civil war. Instead of fighting in a war against his own people, Digol fled to Kenya and spent two years in a refugee camp.


In June 1995, Digol was relocated in Atlanta, Georgia as a refugee. After arriving in the United States, he became the first Nuer male model. He appeared in several magazines regarding his modeling and acting career. He appeared in Image of Us, and Jamati magazines, and was an interview spotlight by ADUNAGOW Magazine. Digol modeled as a Nubian man in the music video for Atlanta-based music group TLC. He also served as an extra in film and television in such movies as Drumline and Stomp the Yard and the hit television show Meet the Browns.


Digol has been sought after by many African pageants to participate as either a host or judge. In 2006, Digol hosted the Miss South Sudan Beauty Pageant in Kansas City. In 2007, Digol, along with Supermodel Noella Coursais, hosted the Miss Africa United States Pageant. Digol also hosted the Super Delegate Miss Africa USA Pageant in 2008, and the Miss South Sudan Beauty Pageant in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2009, Digol hosted the Miss African Beauty Pageant in Washington, D.C. Not only did Digol host the Miss African Beauty Pageant, he also served
as a judge as part of a diverse panel. While in Washington, D.C., he was appointed as a guest speaker at George Mason University at the Lost Boys Funds.


He was also appointed as guest speaker at New York University School of Law dedication panel on: From Nuremberg to Africa: The Evolution of Accountability and Recovery from Conflict.