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Ger Duany
United States-based actor and model Ger Duany became a high profile UNHCR supporter in March 2014. As one of thousands of former Sudanese "lost boys," he is well qualified to spread awareness and understanding about the challenges facing millions of forcibly displaced people around the world.
Born in the town of Akobo in what is now South Sudan, he was caught up in Sudan's north-south civil war. He became separated from his family and was forcefully recruited as a child soldier, like thousands of other boys during the 1983-2005 conflict.
Duany managed to escape to neighbouring Ethiopia at age 14 and was eventually resettled to the United States from the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya. At the time, the peace activist could neither read nor write in English, but he ended up completing a college education in his new homeland.
He had won a scholarship to play basketball, but suffered an injury. While recovering, Duany was cast by chance in the David O. Russell film "I ♥ Huckabees." He befriended star Mark Wahlberg and director Russell and launched a successful career as a male model and actor. He has played the role of a refugee in three films and directed a documentary about his own life, entitled "Ger: To Be Separate."
Duany considers himself fortunate and is determined to help others in South Sudan, where renewed violence since December 2013 has displaced hundreds of thousands. He is also grateful to UNHCR for helping him as a young refugee in Ethiopia and Kenya and for reuniting him with his mother and other family members in Kenya's Kakuma camp in 2014.
He says it breaks his heart that children in South Sudan, which only became independent in 2011, are experiencing the nightmare of killing, destruction and mayhem - while elsewhere children of their age go to school. He wants, as a high profile supporter, to become a voice for refugees and show displaced people that they can overcome adversity.