You Never Know Where Clean Water Will Take You!
Water is basic to life. However, when we give life, we also offer hope. Hope for an education, a job, a future. Sometimes we provide a gift to our world in athletes, artists, and even fashion models.
In John Grisham's book Sooley, we watch a poor malnourished young man use his heart, mind, and natural ability to take the NCAA by storm. However, his journey is quite different than the rest of his family.
Sooley's mom and his family find themselves running from rebels but also desperately looking for water. John Grisham does a fantastic job of giving the reader and realistic insight into life in South Sudan.
One can only imagine how many young men and women like Sooley cannot reach their full potential because of a lack of food and water.
Sooley has touched many worldwide by movingly detailing his college basketball and NBA journey and Sooley's family's journey in South Sudan. His fictionalized story is just one of the many hundreds of thousands of real stories we see every day.
We are proud to work with local talent to make sure water does not stop South Sudan's athletes, astronauts, models, teachers, farmers, moms, and dads of the future.
Will you give clean water now in honor of the athletes giving it all in Japan and the many more families in South Sudan who want a chance to live their dream too?
South Sudan's National Basketball Team and Their Olympic Journey
In an unforgettable game, South Sudan’s national basketball team nearly toppled the giants of basketball, Team USA, in an international friendly match. This near victory has shone a spotlight on a team that is quickly emerging as a powerhouse in the basketball world. Their journey, marked by determination and resilience, has inspired fans worldwide and brought attention to South Sudan’s athletic potential on the global stage.
A Team of Resilience and Hope
The South Sudan national basketball team is more than just a group of athletes: they are symbols of hope and resilience for a nation that has faced immense challenges. South Sudan, established in 2011 as the youngest nation in the world after its independence, has rapidly ascended in the basketball world.
Led by their inspirational federation president, Luol Deng, a former NBA star of South Sudanese descent, the team has made significant strides quickly. Deng’s leadership and commitment to nurturing local talent have been instrumental in the team’s progress. Under his guidance, the players have developed a style of play that combines athleticism, skill, and a deep sense of national pride.
The Road to the Olympics
South Sudan’s Olympic journey is a result of their collective spirit. Qualifying for the Olympics was monumental, symbolizing the team’s hard work and dedication. The team’s roster mixes seasoned players and young talent, each bringing unique strengths to the court. Players like Kuany Kuany, Nuni Omot, and Deng Acuoth have become household names and are celebrated for their contributions to the team’s success. Their performances have not only garnered admiration from fans, but also respect from their opponents.
Performance and Progress
The near victory against Team USA was a defining moment for South Sudan’s national basketball team. It demonstrated their potential to compete with the best and showcased their growth as a formidable team. While they fell short of clinching the win, the game was a testament to their skill, teamwork, and relentless spirit.
More Than Just Basketball
The impact of the South Sudan national basketball team extends beyond the court. Their success has inspired a new generation of athletes in South Sudan, encouraging young boys and girls to pursue their dreams. The team’s achievements have brought a sense of pride and unity to a nation often marred by conflict and adversity.
Organizations like Water is Basic have played a crucial role in supporting your people and promoting sports development in South Sudan. Their efforts to provide clean water and essential resources have positively impacted the community, creating a healthier and more conducive environment for the athletes to train and thrive.
Looking Ahead
As South Sudan’s national basketball team prepares for the Olympics, they do so with a renewed sense of purpose and ambition. Their journey has already made history, and their presence at the Olympics will undoubtedly inspire millions. The team’s story is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved through determination, unity, and a shared vision.
Abraham Guem (Men’s 1500-meter)
Abraham Guem is the team captain competing in the 1500-meter run. "Some athletes only eat once a day, and sometimes I would only eat dinner too, although I had to train twice the next day in the morning and evening," added Guem, who only had one pair of shoes back home and at times struggled for money to buy water from a vendor to wash them daily. Guem recalled how he used to have to trek two and a half hours to reach a stony field for training that began at 5 p.m. He would not return home until 10 p.m., worn out by the five hours spent traveling back and forth. Guem said he feared he might be shot while jogging, even in predawn hours, amid the ethnic violence. "We go back to our cities with changed mindsets," Guem said. "Even if it's hard for us to influence the whole society, at least we will be able to influence three or four people, and those people will continue to influence others. Eventually, that'll come to gain peace in the country."
Source: Kyodo News
Lucia Moris (Women’s 200 meter)
In June 2021, under the universality rule within the Olympic qualifying criteria which allows smaller nations with developing sports programs to send representatives to the competition she was confirmed as being selected for the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics. In November 2019, prior to the original date of the games, Moris was training in Japan with the South Sudan squad in the city of Maebashi in preparation for the event and were able to stay there and train during the Covid-19 pandemic with the city sponsoring their extended stay. Speaking to VICE (magazine) Moris was quoted as saying “It’s very different from home and I miss my family and friends, but I want to compete at the highest level.”
Akoon Akoon (400-meter hurdle sprinter)
Competed in 2018 in Buenos Aires. Given the challenges he has training back home, he has already won a battle just by getting to the competition. Akoon qualified for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games through a national competition in which he came first, but competing against athletes from around the world at Buenos Aires 2018 puts him at the back of the pack. "If you do not train well, you can not compete with the athletes who do," he said. Akoon Akoon has stayed in Japan for months training with his teammates for the extended 2020 Olympics.
Michael Machiek (200-meter Paralympic athlete)
Michael Machiek is the first athlete from South Sudan to qualify for the Paralympic Games. He qualified for the August Paralympic games in Tokyo after winning the 200-meter race in the qualifying game in Maebashei, Japan. “I want to send good news to the whole nation about the historic achievement that our hero Michael has achieved today (Sunday) after his victory over the Japanese champion,” said Eng. Juma Stephen, the President of the South Sudan National Olympics Committee.
Source: EyeRadio
Refugee Olympic Athletes From South Sudan
Illustration from The 2016 Olympics IOC Refugee Olympic Team
The Refugee Olympic team was created to instill a message of hope and solidarity while raising awareness of the challenges faced by the more than 80 million displaced people worldwide. Other Teams (Runner's World)
Anjelina Nadai Lohalith - Track
Anjelina arrived in Kakuma with her aunt in 2002 after escaping South Sudan because of the war. One of Anjelina’s high school teachers suggested that she take her running success and run at the 10km run organised by the Tegla Loroupe Foundation. From her success at Tegla, Anjelina was selected to participate in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Since then, she continues to run and will participate in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She has also recently become a mother.
Souce: IOC Olympics
Rose Nathike Likonyen - Track
Rose and her family fled South Sudan because of the war and arrived at the Kakuma refugee camp in 2002. Although her parents went back to South Sudan in 2008, her and her siblings remained in Kakuma. While in school, she also participated in many running competitions and in 2015 she participated along side Anjelina Lohalith in the 10km run in Kakuma organised by the Tegla Loroupe Foundation. He success got her selected for the Rio Olympics. She is currently on the 2020 Tokyo Refugee Olympic Team where she runs the 800 metres.
Souce: IOC Olympics
James Nyang Chiengjiek - Track
James is from Bentiu, South Sudan. His father was a soldier who died in 1999 during the war. When he was a young boy, James took care of cattle. He escaped from South Sudan when the war broke out as he was at risk of being forced to participate in the war by the army. In 2015, James joined the Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation and has been training there ever since. He ran the 400 meters in the 2016 Olympics.
Source: IOC Olympics
Paulo Amotun Lokoro - Track
Paulo took care of his family’s cattle prior to fleeing to Kenya in March 2006 in order to escape war. While in the Kakuma camp, Paulo went to school and participated in many sports. In 2015, the Tegla Loroupe Foundation came to Kakuma and organised athletics trials. He performed well enough to join the Foundation. He has been there ever since, and competed in the Olympic Games Rio 2016. He is one of the 7 runners representing the Refugee Olympic Team in Tokyo.
Souce: IOC Olympics
Other Amazing Athletes from South Sudan
“Bullen grapples in the colours of her adopted home, but she also wrestles for the country of her heritage, South Sudan.
She wrestles to show refugees that they can also improve their lives, and she fights for female empowerment back in Africa.”
(Source Olympics.com)
Photo credit: Michael Steele
“When Norway’s Grace Bullen takes to the wrestling mat, she is fighting for something much bigger than herself.” (Source Olympics.com)
“After he played college basketball for the Bridgeport Purple Knights, Bol was selected by the Washington Bullets in the 1985 NBA draft. Bol played for the Bullets and three other teams over the course of his NBA career, which lasted from 1985 to 1995. A center, Bol is considered among the best shot-blockers in the history of the sport and is the only NBA player to retire with more career blocked shots than points scored. As of 2020, he ranked second in NBA history in blocked shots per game and 16th in total blocked shots. Bol was notable for his efforts to promote human rights in his native Sudan and aid for Sudanese refugees.” (from Wikipedia) Photo Credit: Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images
Duop Reath (Australian Men's Basketball)
Born in South Sudan, at age nine he and his family fled the civil war there and moved to Australia. They first went to Brisbane before settling in Perth. He then relocated to the United States to further his basketball career, playing at Lee College in Baytown, TX before moving to Louisiana State University. After going undrafted in the 2018 NBA draft, Reath joined the Dallas Mavericks for the NBA Summer League. On 1 August 2018, Reath signed a three-year contract with the Serbian team FMP. In July 2019, he joined the Brooklyn Nets for the 2019 NBA Summer League. On 1 August 2020, Reath signed a contract with the Serbian team Crvena Zvezda for the 2020–21 season. Reath was selected as a member of the Australian national team for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
Luol Ajou Deng OBE (born 16 April 1985) is a South Sudanese-British former professional basketball player. He was a two-time NBA All-Star and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2012. Born in what is now South Sudan, Deng fled the country with his family as a child, eventually settling in the United Kingdom. He became a British citizen in 2006, and has played for the Great Britain national team.
After playing college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils, Deng was selected by the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 2004 NBA draft with the seventh overall pick. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team as a 19-year-old in 2005. The small forward was an All-Star with the Bulls in 2012 and 2013 before splitting the 2013–14 season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. After just half a season with Cleveland, Deng joined the Miami Heat for 2014–15. He played two seasons for the Heat before signing with the Lakers in 2016. He spent his last season with the Minnesota Timberwolves. On 17 October 2019, Deng signed a one-day contract to retire with the Chicago Bulls. Photo Credit: Getty Images
