Ger Duany

"I am using my story and the support from those who lend me an ear to help spread awareness about the work of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
 
Sharing my story is cathartic. It helps me to rise above painful memories and contemplate how those experiences can be utilized to create good. It took many years for me to dare face the demons of my childhood. It meant reliving memories of war, commotion, famine and of seeing many of my friends and family members die."

About Ger

Sudanese-born actor, model, and former refugee, Ger Duany has been supporting UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency since June 2015. As one of thousands of former Sudanese 'lost boys' and someone who was helped directly by UNHCR, he is well-qualified to raise 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, Ger 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. At the age of 14, he  managed to escape to neighbouring Ethiopia and was eventually resettled to the United States from the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya. At the time, he could neither read nor write in English, but ended up completing a college education in his new homeland.

In his role as a High Profile Supporter, Ger has elected to focus on youth and education, saying “given a chance, refugee kids excel. They are not powerless, they don't need pity. They can be citizens of any country, respectfully and constructively contributing to humanity’s goals.”

In 2014, UNHCR helped Ger reunite with his mother and other family members in Kenya's Kakuma refugee camp. He has written extensively about his childhood and reunion with his family in various blog posts.

Recent support and field visits

Ger has advocated for the refugee cause through field visits to refugee camps, high level meetings, public events and online initiatives.

Over the course of 2015, Ger spoke on behalf of UNHCR at numerous events across the world, including the Social Good Summit in New York, the Tokyo Film Festival, UNHCR’s Nansen Refugee Awards, TEDXPalaceDesNations, and at the Annual Tripartite Consultations on Resettlement in Geneva. He has also met with high-level diplomats and government officials in several countries to advocate on behalf of refugees.

In June 2016 Ger visited refugees in Uganda, with a focus on learning about initiatives for young refugees, and reflected on his experiences in his UNHCR blog for World Refugee Day. Later in 2016, Ger attended the Refugee Congress in Capitol Hill, Washington DC, sharing insights from his experiences as a refugee, before joining the UNHCR High Commissioner’s Dialogue on Protection Challenges in December the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

Throughout 2017, 2018 and 2019, Ger participated in numerous panels and summits advocacting for the rights of refugees and displaced persons on behalf of UNHCR. Some of these include the One Journey Festival in Washington, USA, and the International Student Festival in Trondheim, Norway, where he met a Nansen Laureate and the former SRSG of South Sudan. Ger has also continued to support UNHCR's campaigns on his social channels.