Betiem initially came to the United States as part of the Young African Leaders
Initiative. Begun by the Obama administration in 2010, the program
将年轻的非洲学生和社区领袖带到美国
国家进一步教育或发展他们的领导能力.
在德克萨斯理工大学待了一段时间后,他的一个堂兄邀请他去住
her family in Grand Rapids. That’s when he found Grand Valley.
“I like the way President (Philomena V.) Mantella talks, and she
明白经济背景有限的人应该得到
opportunities too,” Betiem said. “Her comments motivate me and keep me moving.
“我的顾问,总统,每个人,他们都想确保这一点
everybody gets that opportunity, and that is amazing. They looked at
me as a human being that deserves an opportunity.”
Betiem对他得到的这些机会深表感激. He
did not know if they would ever happen.
第二次苏丹内战使这个国家陷入了政治动乱
种族冲突给这里的风景和人民留下了创伤. The war
始于2013年12月,当时总统萨尔瓦·基尔指责他的前任
deputy and others of attempting a coup d’état.
这个国家的两个主要部落——努尔族和丁卡族——很快就变成了
entwined in the political unrest. As members of the Nuer, Betiem and
他的家人发现自己成了丁卡族领导的政府的目标.
Betiem向他和他的兄弟描述了一件令人痛心的事情
在基尔加强对主要城市的控制后不久,
Juba. 忠于总统的人围捕并询问所有人
whom they deemed as sympathetic to the opposition’s cause. The three
男人和其他人被扔进地下监狱,几乎没有日光.
“Even if it was noon, it was dark down there,” Betiem said. “At
晚上,他们会向人们发射一束光,让你抬头看
into the light. There were people they were specifically targeting.
他们会过来环顾四周,把他们抓出来杀了. We never
saw those people again.”
Betiem幸存下来仅仅是因为他得到了官员的青睐
charge. Within a week, he was released.