Students at Chatham's Ursuline College are getting a better idea of how to handle hardship from a former South Sudanese child soldier.
Emmanuel Jal, now a recording artist and motivational speaker, gave his presentation to hundreds of students at the school this morning.
"I believe every person has got a story," he says. "When we share our stories for social, emotional learning we're able to put a spotlight in a dark place that makes evil go formless."
Jal spoke to students in Wallaceburg and Chatham on Tuesday as well. He feels his story of escaping life as a child soldier in South Sudan to becoming an artist and speaker in Canada can help young people today.
"Just coming out of that death form to be able to get myself again and find my purpose is a journey that a lot of young people want to know," says Jal. "People are interested in somebody surviving and living and smiling."
Jal was smuggled out of South Sudan by a British aid worker before eventually making his way to Canada as a refugee. He now calls Toronto home and has released five studio albums in addition to his work as a motivational speaker.
