Gabriel Bol Deng, Founder and Director of Hope for Ariang, fled Sudan as a child of 10 years of age when his village was attacked by North Sudan Arab militiamen. He fled knowing only that his parents were lost in the attack - not knowing if they were alive. With other children whose villages had also been attacked, he walked for months, crossing the Nile and untold miles of desert. They finally reached Ethiopia, where they were safe, until political upheaval there meant that Gabriel and the others he had traveled with had to flee again. They made their way to Kenya and a refugee camp there. This primitive education provided in he Kenyan camp gave Gabriel hope for his future.

In 2001, Gabriel came to the United States, and along with other Sudanese refugees he received help resettling in New York state. He has since graduated from Le Moyne College in Syracuse NY having received their "Distinguished Student Teacher of the Year" award in 2006. Gabriel has thrived in the United States and is now working to help his village enhance their education by building, maintaining and supporting the Ariang Primary School. His commitment to education is strong and his belief that education is key to his village's success has not waived.

In order to create awareness of the suffering of the millions of people in his native Sudan, Deng has built a reputation as an informative and passionate public speaker. He has spoken at over 300 venues to people of all ages about his life experiences and the ongoing crises in Sudan. His inspiring lectures touch on the American immigrant experience, the ongoing political turmoil in Sudan, the situation in Darfur and its connections to South Sudan, and the impact of war on children. He bears witness to the importance of education and the triumph of the human spirit. Most of all he emphasizes the power of hope and of holding on to your dreams.