"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are."
American author e.e. cummings

As a boy, Deng is separated from his family during the Second Sudanese Civil War when the Arab militia wipes out his Dinka village, Marial Bai. He flees on foot with a group of other young boys, (the "Lost Boys"), encountering great danger and terrible hardship along the way to a refugee camp in Ethiopia. Their inflated expectations are shattered by the conditions at the camp, and eventually they are forced to flee to another refugee camp in Kakuma, after the Ethiopian dictator is overthrown and soldiers open fire on them. They make it to Kenya and finally, years later, he moves to the United States.

The MEAPA Way suggests that individuals, business, schools, communities and other organizations can learn a variety of lessons from this story by watching this 10 minute New York Times video and answering the following questions:

• What do you find most impressive about his story?
• What is he trying to accomplish/build?
• Why does Nicholas Kristof believe education is so important?
• How does his story demonstrate the ability to define and work towards a specific goal?
  
• Deng's story also epitomizes how one can use resources to make the world a better place. Can you explain how that is?
• What were the difficult situations that he had to endure?
• What other PATH traits and habits does Valentino Achak Deng demonstrate?
• What other lessons can you take from his story and apply them to your own life?
• What message can others take from his story/this video?