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In 2015, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) appointed Ger Duany as Goodwill Ambassador for the East and Horn of Africa region. Born in South Sudan, war separated Ger from his mother at the age of 13. Like others he resorted to becoming a child soldier as a means of survival during South Sudan’s struggle for independence. Ger later became a refugee in Ethiopia and then Kenya, and was resettled to the United States at the age of 15. In this unfamiliar environment Ger persevered, and went on to earn a college degree.
Today, Ger has built a successful career as an actor and fashion model. Most recently he played a leading role in the film, The Good Lie, which tells the story of three refugees’ struggles to integrate as they resettle to the United States. Like many former “Lost Boys of Sudan”, Ger is driven by the urge to give back to the cause of forced displacement. In his role as Goodwill Ambassador, he uses his story and influence to help spread awareness about the plight of refugees and other populations that UNHCR serves.