Juac has made the leap from being an African refugee to a chess champion in the United States.
Juac
has
made
the
leap
from
being
an
African
refugee
to
a
chess
champion
in
the
United
States
.
His job is to share his expertise with students in schools, chess camps and other events.
His
job
is
to
share
his
expertise
with
students
in
schools
,
chess
camps
and
other
events
.
During Sudan's civil war in the mid-1980s, Juac was forced out of the country with 20,000 0ther so -called Lost Boys.
During
Sudan
's
civil
war
in
the
mid-1980s
,
Juac
was
forced
out
of
the
country
with
20,000
0ther
so
-called
Lost
Boys
.
He fled to Ethiopia, then to Kenya staying in a refugee camp for eight years, where he learned to play chess.
He
fled
to
Ethiopia
,
then
to
Kenya
staying
in
a
refugee
camp
for
eight
years
,
where
he
learned
to
play
chess
.
Juac described a dangerous journey in which half the boys didn't survive.
Juac
described
a
dangerous
journey
in
which
half
the
boys
did
n't
survive
.
To eat, they had to kill wild animals.
To
eat
,
they
had
to
kill
wild
animals
.
"There were animals on the way.
``
There
were
animals
on
the
way
.
It was about a thousand miles and sometimes there was no water.
It
was
about
a
thousand
miles
and
sometimes
there
was
no
water
.
When we were in Ethiopia, we had to cross the river and there a lot drowned."
When
we
were
in
Ethiopia
,
we
had
to
cross
the
river
and
there
a
lot
drowned
.
''
Juac arrived in the United States in 2004 and began working as a security guard.
Juac
arrived
in
the
United
States
in
2004
and
began
working
as
a
security
guard
.
Winning a chess tournament gave him this teaching opportunity.
Winning
a
chess
tournament
gave
him
this
teaching
opportunity
.
Juac believes chess helps prepare young people for life.
Juac
believes
chess
helps
prepare
young
people
for
life
.
"Some kids are not interested, so it's your job to make them like the game, to explain them what chess is going to help them with."
``
Some
kids
are
not
interested
,
so
it
's
your
job
to
make
them
like
the
game
,
to
explain
them
what
chess
is
going
to
help
them
with
.
''
He said.
He
said
.
"Like, I can tell, this game will give you patience, and help with your math skills."
``
Like
,
I
can
tell
,
this
game
will
give
you
patience
,
and
help
with
your
math
skills
.
''
Julie Cathone, a second grade teacher in Jackson Public School, agrees.
Julie
Cathone
,
a
second
grade
teacher
in
Jackson
Public
School
,
agrees
.
The School's principal, Meghan Kelley, said Juac and chess have made a big difference.
The
School
's
principal
,
Meghan
Kelley
,
said
Juac
and
chess
have
made
a
big
difference
.
"What a role model.
``
What
a
role
model
.
I mean when you think about just overcoming, and finding what you love and turning that into your life's work."
I
mean
when
you
think
about
just
overcoming
,
and
finding
what
you
love
and
turning
that
into
your
life
's
work
.
''
Juac said he enjoys the freedom he has in the United States.
Juac
said
he
enjoys
the
freedom
he
has
in
the
United
States
.
But his passion is playing and teaching chess to youngsters.
But
his
passion
is
playing
and
teaching
chess
to
youngsters
.
His boss, Michael Propper, said Juac has one great advantage.
His
boss
,
Michael
Propper
,
said
Juac
has
one
great
advantage
.
"I think he's believable.
``
I
think
he
's
believable
.
I think they look at him and he's so unassuming that they feel like they can do what he's doing and be a person as he is too."
I
think
they
look
at
him
and
he
's
so
unassuming
that
they
feel
like
they
can
do
what
he
's
doing
and
be
a
person
as
he
is
too
.
''
Ju ac still has a big goal ahead of him-becoming an international chess master.
Ju
ac
still
has
a
big
goal
ahead
of
him-becoming
an
international
chess
master
.
With his skill and patience, Propper and his peers have no doubt that will happen.
With
his
skill
and
patience
,
Propper
and
his
peers
have
no
doubt
that
will
happen
.
Juac has made the leap from being an African refugee to a chess champion in the United States. His job is to share his expertise with students in schools, chess camps and other events.  During Sudan's civil war in the mid-1980s, Juac was forced out of the country with 20,000 0ther so -called Lost Boys. He fled to Ethiopia, then to Kenya staying in a refugee camp for eight years, where he learned to play chess.  Juac described a dangerous journey in which half the boys didn't survive. To eat, they had to kill wild animals.  "There were animals on the way. It was about a thousand miles and sometimes there was no water. When we were in Ethiopia, we had to cross the river and there a lot drowned."  Juac arrived in the United States in 2004 and began working as a security guard. Winning a chess tournament gave him this teaching opportunity. Juac believes chess helps prepare young people for life.  "Some kids are not interested, so it's your job to make them like the game, to explain them what chess is going to help them with." He said. "Like, I can tell, this game will give you patience, and help with your math skills."  Julie Cathone, a second grade teacher in Jackson Public School, agrees. The School's principal, Meghan Kelley, said Juac and chess have made a big difference.  "What a role model. I mean when you think about just overcoming, and finding what you love and turning that into your life's work."  Juac said he enjoys the freedom he has in the United States. But his passion is playing and teaching chess to youngsters. His boss, Michael Propper, said Juac has one great advantage.  "I think he's believable. I think they look at him and he's so unassuming that they feel like they can do what he's doing and be a person as he is too."  Ju ac still has a big goal ahead of him-becoming an international chess master. With his skill and patience, Propper and his peers have no doubt that will happen.