Juba: South Sudanese Olympian and first professional basketball player to be appointed as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, Wenyen Gabriel, opened up about his family's journey from being refugees to building a life in the United States. He emphasized how protection and resettlement can transform lives and argued that protection should be a fundamental right for everyone, regardless of the country they are born into.
According to Anadolu Agency, Gabriel's family arrived in New Hampshire in the late 1990s after being resettled in the US as refugees. Despite the challenges, his parents worked multiple jobs to provide for the family, leading to Gabriel earning a basketball scholarship and representing South Sudan at the Olympics. He stressed that refugees come to countries with the intention to work and contribute, countering the narrative that they are a burden.
Gabriel was born in Khartoum during the civil war in southern Sudan. His family's journey to safety began in Cairo, where they sought help from UNHCR. After a challenging separation, the family reunited and resettled in the US when Gabriel was two. This journey eventually led him to a successful basketball career and his recent appointment as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador.
Gabriel's life story underscores the positive impact of international protection systems. His appointment coincides with UNHCR's 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih highlighted Gabriel's story as a potent reminder of the importance of refugee protection.
Throughout his childhood in the US, stories of South Sudan were a constant presence. Gabriel's curiosity about his roots led him to visit South Sudan, where he was warmly welcomed and confronted with the realities faced by displaced communities.
During a visit to Maban County, Gabriel met a mother in a refugee camp whose experiences resonated with his family's journey. Her struggles with family separation reminded him of his own mother's challenges during their migration.
In an effort to bring hope, Gabriel inaugurated a basketball court at the Doro Refugee Camp and held a clinic for young refugees. While acknowledging the pressing needs of these communities, he emphasized the unifying and positive impact of sports, saying it can bring communities together and offer hope.