by Mike Matzinger
Buey Ray Tut’s life journey began in what is now South Sudan, a land that would be shaped by decades of civil conflict. At just eight years old, Tut was forced to leave his home as part of a wave of refugees fleeing violence and instability. Though he resettled far from his birthplace, the memories of his early childhood—particularly the long, daily walks of three to four miles to fetch water from a river—stayed with him. Those early hardships would later inspire a lifelong mission to bring clean water and democratic practices to communities in need.
After arriving in the United States, Tut built a new life in Omaha, Nebraska. Even as he pursued his education and integrated into American society, he carried a deep sense of responsibility to the people of South Sudan. In 2011, the same year he proudly became a U.S. citizen, Tut co-founded Aqua-Africa, a nonprofit organization, alongside two fellow South Sudanese expatriates. The mission was simple yet profound: to address the water crisis in their homeland by providing sustainable access to clean water.
Aqua-Africa quickly gained momentum. Within just three years, the organization had successfully drilled 13 wells, bringing safe water to more than 6,500 people. Tut and his team, however, envisioned far more. Their five-year goal was to expand access to clean water to 200,000 people—a bold vision rooted not only in compassion but also in practicality and leadership.
Yet, Tut understood that water alone was not enough. Communities needed tools to manage resources fairly and sustainably. That’s why Aqua-Africa developed a pioneering model that paired well construction with civic education. Each new well was managed by a local water committee—a democratically elected board tasked with setting fair water prices, maintaining infrastructure, and ensuring equal access. To prepare villagers for this responsibility, Aqua-Africa taught the principles of democracy and held elections complete with secret ballots, term limits, and official announcements. This innovative blend of infrastructure and institution-building ensured that every well was not just a source of water but also a springboard for community empowerment.
For Tut, the connection between leadership, democracy, and service was not abstract—it was personal. He credits much of his approach to lessons learned in Scouting, where he first encountered the “patrol method,” a system of shared leadership and accountability. “We’re basically using the patrol method,” Tut has said. “My Scouting experience is intertwined with what I do now. Everything I’ve done there, I’ve applied now in Aqua-Africa.”
From refugee to U.S. citizen, Buey Ray Tut embodies resilience and vision. His work through Aqua-Africa continues to ripple outward, not only quenching thirst but also cultivating democracy, dignity, and hope.