From Fear to Freedom: True Grit with Deng Thiak Adut

About From Fear to Freedom: True Grit with Deng Thiak Adut

A true story of triumph of the human spirit, Deng Adut was ripped from his family farm in Sudan at age six and conscripted to the People’s Liberation Army. Forced to witness the atrocities of war, Deng was shot in the back as he ran through a village.

A chance meeting two years later led Deng to his brother who smuggled him from the country in a corn sack in the back of a truck. The brothers arrived as refugees in 1998 and settled with an Australian family in Western Sydney.

Deng taught himself English and chose to live out of his car before he enrolled in a Bachelor of Laws in 2005 and became the first person in his family to graduate with a law degree. Now a lawyer, Deng offers consultation to other Sudanese refugees so that they can be afforded the chance at a life free from fear.

This event is hosted by UON Student Living, the University of Newcastle’s on-campus accommodation as part of the ResLife program. ResTalks is an initiative of UON Student Living that aims to inspire with the stories of resilience and strength of celebrities, advocates, survivors and educators. Past ResTalks have hosted comedians Hannah Gatsby and Tom Ballard, notable scientist Dr Karl Kruszelnicki and shark-attack survivor Paul de Gelder.

This event is free to all UON staff and students.

Deng Adut brought to the UON by Celebrity Speakers – www.celebrityspeakers.com.au