1987
Dut Tong, during an attack by the Maram tribe, fled his boyhood village of Akoch Atong, South Sudan. Thus, he became a Lost Boy of South Sudan.
2004
The United Nations airlifted Dut and thousands of Lost Boys out of refugee camps in Ethiopia. He had been in the refugee camp for over 11 years.
2013
The Church of St. Peter Claver raised money to install a well in the village, saving lives with clean water.
2016
Dut Tong realized his dream of organizing the Akoch Atong Village Foundation as a 501 (c) (3) charity.
2017-2019
The foundation built a 2-room school. With this school, children can learn indoors, even in rainy season.
2020
The foundation outfitted the new school with a door, glass windows and chairs.
2020
The foundation began a student farm at the school. Students who go hungry can learn agriculture and share in the harvest.
2021
The main crop of sorghum is traditionally ground by women by hand. The foundation gave a mechanical grain grinder, saving much labor and becoming a micro-business for grain processing.
2021
The foundation repaired rafters and installed a new roof for the old school.
2022
Work began on a new school of 4 classrooms.
Summer 2022
Flooding from a prolonged rainy season washed away homes and crops on the riverfront. Homes and schools in the highlands were safe. Residents in the lowlands were moved to community land in the highlands.
Early 2023
The foundation began a Seed Bank so that families who lost crops could plant again.
April 15, 2023
A violent civil war broke out in (North) Sudan; whereas the village of Akoch Atong remained peaceful. People from the village, caught in (North) Sudan, fled over the border. The foundation helped several citizens of Akoch Atong with transport to cross the border to South Sudan.
2024
Returnees from the war came to Akoch Atong with the clothes on their backs and with young children. The foundation provided returnees with seeds, garden tools and tarps for shelter.
2024
The foundation began a Goat Program. Returning families and also the existing highly vulnerable population unable to work in the fields, received a grant of goats. Just $100 buys 3 goats. Goats provide milk, and can be bred for barter or sale at the market.
2025
The 45 goats donated to the village have started to produce baby kids! The kids are being granted to people in Akoch Atong who are vulnerable-the disabled, widows and orphans. Livestock are a source of milk and financial security.
2025 Goals
Seeking a micro-grant to install the roof on the four-classroom school.
2025
As many as 7,000 South Sudanese fleeing civil war and genocide in (North) Sudan are expected to reach Akoch Atong and nearby villages. The vegetable garden fields are almost ready to plant. We are giving seeds and fencing to protect crops from animals.
Future Goals
A truck for transport to medical care in Aweil;
Micro-grants for women to plant vegetable gardens around their homes to feed their family and to sell at the market.
Funds to hire a teacher for the schools. The government provides one teacher for more than 1,000 students. Parents volunteer to teach now, but teacher pay would be a great benefit.
Lost Boys
The Village
Inspiration
Teamwork
Students
Making Bricks from Dried Earth
Kiln
Building the School
Sorgum
Grain Grinders
Student Farm
William Malual Community Elder
Repairs Needed for Roof
Additional Classrooms
Flooding 2022
Goat Program
Foundation Commitment
Future Plans
Sustainable Farming
Truck Transport
Seed Stock