Seeds of Strength: Cultivating Hope for War Orphans Through OPOTO

I am Andrew Lang, a South Sudanese national, who was born and raised in the middle of the Sudan Civil War, indigent of Fangak county, Jonglei State. I am currently living as a refugee in Kenya following the eruption of the South Sudan civil war in 2013. Professionally I am a medical professional with 15 years of experience in the humanitarian sector.  I am currently working with MSF-Holland as a humanitarian international staff and worked in Ethiopia and Nigeria mission between 2020 - and 2024

My dream of helping these orphaned children began in 2014 after my wife, our six children and I were overwhelmed by the crying and distress call for help by orphans at Kenya -South Sudan Road. The call was to take them with us to Kenya to rescue them from dying of hunger or being killed like their relatives they watched being slaughtered in front of them by men in uniform. With humanity in my heart, the question between me and my wife was; how many orphans will be in South Sudan after this civil war? Can we [you and I] change the orphans’ lives to a hopeful future?

My humanity and the suffering of many children on the street raise a question in my mind, (I ask my wife what if we are dead by now, is this how our children can be on the street too? Can someone help them? These questions gave me hope to begin my long-term dream of protecting and caring for vulnerable orphaned children whose parents died before a hopeful future could be lived, consequently leading to the birth of Orphans are the People of Tomorrow Organization (OPOTO). I believe that if we come together with a commitment and join hands, the orphans can be the people of tomorrow.  Spending all the little I earn for these orphaned children will indeed bring a hopeful future to minors who are currently hopeless.

In 2020 my best friend Stefanie Pender from Australia whom I met in MSF South Sudan mission went back home and told her mother the stories and dangers she saw in South Sudan and how many children were on the street to her mother. They the pain and the burden I was going through by looking after many orphans.  Since then, they have played an integral part in supporting OPOTO through quarterly donations and support. Thanks to them, I am able to cater for most of the needs of the children.  

My hope is to expand the scope of OPOTO be able to support many more orphans. You and I can bring back hope for orphaned children through OPOTO. Let us join hands today and change the future of war orphans.