Sudanese Lost Boys of Cleveland

Who we are

The Friends of the Sudanese Lost Boys of Cleveland (FSLBC) is a non-profit volunteer-based organization dedicated to assisting the Sudanese Lost Boys of Cleveland in their transition from struggling refugees to self-sufficient citizens.

FSLBC intends to empower the Sudanese to develop into productive, contributing members of our society by assisting them in their understanding of, and adaptation to, the American social, economic, and political institutions, while maintaining and celebrating their cultural roots and identity.

Our ideas how to help:

• Education - provide tutors, help set up study groups with tutors and amongst themselves, help with financial aid and application forms, help with placement in appropriate GED, ESOL, vocational and college classes
• Fundraising - help raise funds to support education, citizenship costs and miscellaneous expenses of the association
• Mentoring - stresses importance of and encourages completion of GED and if applicable attend college; connects the Lost Boy with tutors, cultural activities and sporting events; helps identify goals, hopes and dreams and helps them stay focused; respects religious and political beliefs; has continual contact with Lost Boy and makes a six month commitment to the program.
• Housing - Assist in finding safe, affordable housing near bus lines

Majok Thiik Madut remembered

The Friends of the Sudanese Lost Boys of Cleveland is a group of dedicated volunteers who came together in January 2007 following the untimely death of Majok Thiik Madut, one of Cleveland’s Lost Boys. Majok was shot and killed in the early evening hours of December 11, 2006 while waiting for a bus on Cleveland’s east side. His murderer has never been found and no motive ever established.

It was from this tragic event that the Lost Boys of Cleveland, through media exposure, were brought into the public eye, resulting in donations and myriad offers of help from across the county. It was because of these donations that our group was able to mobilize and begin to assist the remaining twenty-eight Sudanese Lost Boys of Cleveland.

Our primary focus is helping the Lost Boys acquire proper education, housing and jobs while providing friendship and security through our mentoring and other volunteer programs. Donations go directly to funding education and paying their U.S. citizenship fees.

We all miss Majok and the joy he brought to us and his brothers’ lives. We are working hard to ensure that Majok’s remaining brothers find the peace and security they came to this country to find. One death is too many and our group is committed to protecting and helping the Lost Boys acquire the tools needed for them to move forward toward independent and fulfilled lives here in the United States.