Most boys enjoy a life revolving around schoolmates, fun, sport,
computer games and mobile phones.
They come home from school to a cooked meal and snuggle safely into their beds at night.
But this was not so for Kuol Baak who at 12 years old was fighting a war in the Rebel Army in Ethiopia where he served three years.
Today, living in Port Pirie, Mr Baak has told how he served in an army of youthful and disciplined rebel soldiers who were in command of Ethiopia Capital.
This was a painful experience for the boy when, fearing attack any time of the day or night, he would sleep with one eye open and an ear to the ground.
In 1992 at the age of 15 he was discharged and he went to the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya which is in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, where he stayed for 11 years.
Better life
The UNHCR is an impartial, non-political humanitarian organisation, mandated by the United Nations to protect refugees and seek ways to help them restart their lives and throughout his time there, Mr Baak said that he felt safe and had a better life.
Mr Baak, who is the eldest child of nine, came from South Sudan where he grew up with a loving family, growing food on the land and tending to the cows.
During the long African war his family endured hardship, having to move five times to safety, finding land for food and a place to sleep by cutting down trees in the forest.
His father didn’t see a need for education, believing it was only necessary to go to school, primarily to be able to read and write.
Meanwhile, he was preparing for his children to stay at home with him on the land.
Between 2000 and 2003 the Federal Government was bringing a large number of refugees to Australia from Kakuma Camp, until processing was stopped in 2005.
Director of the Jesuit Refugee Service, Sister Maureen forwarded an application for Mr Baak, to the High Commissioner of Australia at a time when Australia was not accepting young single people into the country but in due course the policy changed and his case was recalled.
Refugees’ rights
The Jesuit Refugee Service program is an international Catholic organisation which defends the rights of refugees.
Mr Baak was eventually granted permanent residency in Australia in 2002.
If his application had not been successful, he would have possibly worked in the camp as a teacher or have returned to South Sudan to his family.
Alternatively he may have rejoined the rebels.
When Mr Baak told his family he was going to migrate to Australia his father agonised over the decision, saying that he had gone too far.
“He was in pain because I am not with him and the family,” said Mr Baak.
“The rest of the world is marching on and I have a nice job, but he still wants me there with him.”
At the same time, his father is happy he has done so well and that he has been educated.
Mr Baak is now helping two of his brothers and two sisters to obtain primary and secondary school education; for without his help it would most likely not be possible.
His own education started when he studied Year 2 in the camp having previously done Year 1 while living in South Sudan. Then he continued his schooling up to Year 12 when he received a scholarship which was offered by the Jesuit Refugee Service, to the top five percent students.
When he arrived in Adelaide he studied at Uni SA, gaining honors in a Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning.
He was interested in pursuing this career because in his country there was a great need for urban and regional planning and improving relationships in its towns and cities.
“A city is a place for outcasts with nothing for them to do and there are needs for improvement in integration,” said Mr Baak.
One day he would like to honor his father and maybe return to work in his country in development and planning.
Mr Baak met Melanie, his wife-to-be, in Adelaide while she was a volunteer working for the Sudanese Refugees Community and in 2007 after their engagement they visited his birthplace.
The couple married last year and have a daughter Akon, aged four months, who is the delight of their life.
Mrs Baak is in her second year of her PhD in education.
Council worker
Mr Baak, 31, gained a position last month as the planning officer with the Port Pirie Regional Council.
He has enjoyed living here and said that Port Pirie is a beautiful place.
“I prefer living here to Adelaide,” he said.
In an inspirational tale of courage and survival, his life is a far cry from when he picked up a gun.
He now has only distant memories of his old life.
“There is no such thing in our world as a camera,” he said with a big smile.
“The only photos I have in my youth are in my mother’s mind.”
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