hello everyone my name is blaze belazi and I’m a refugee I’ve been living here
and I’m a refugee I’ve been living here
and I’m a refugee I’ve been living here for nine months now as you can see I
for nine months now as you can see I
for nine months now as you can see I still learning English and the culture
still learning English and the culture
still learning English and the culture I’m here tonight to tell you about my
I’m here tonight to tell you about my
I’m here tonight to tell you about my story it’s not a fiction story but the
story it’s not a fiction story but the
story it’s not a fiction story but the real story I was born in Democratic
real story I was born in Democratic
real story I was born in Democratic Republic of Congo in town that called
Republic of Congo in town that called
Republic of Congo in town that called Bukavu Bukavu is my city I was born
Bukavu Bukavu is my city I was born
Bukavu Bukavu is my city I was born there and raised there I didn’t know any
there and raised there I didn’t know any
there and raised there I didn’t know any other place than to cover
Bukavu is my hood I was born in a nice
Bukavu is my hood I was born in a nice family educated family my father was an
family educated family my father was an
family educated family my father was an immigration officer and my mother was
immigration officer and my mother was
immigration officer and my mother was good staying home um so I went in Bukavu
good staying home um so I went in Bukavu
good staying home um so I went in Bukavu I went to school Bukavu elementary
I went to school Bukavu elementary
I went to school Bukavu elementary school middle school and high school
school middle school and high school
school middle school and high school half of high school and in middle school
half of high school and in middle school
half of high school and in middle school how was it the guy who could play soccer
how was it the guy who could play soccer
how was it the guy who could play soccer or basketball but I was what you call a
or basketball but I was what you call a
or basketball but I was what you call a class clown I used to make people in
class clown I used to make people in
class clown I used to make people in class laugh make jokes around in class
class laugh make jokes around in class
class laugh make jokes around in class it was great and in high school I
it was great and in high school I
it was great and in high school I started doing theater so when there is
started doing theater so when there is
started doing theater so when there is event in high school the press will come
event in high school the press will come
event in high school the press will come and ask me if I have something some
and ask me if I have something some
and ask me if I have something some skills to make people comfortable and I
skills to make people comfortable and I
skills to make people comfortable and I was the guy for that so I was an actor
was the guy for that so I was an actor
was the guy for that so I was an actor and I used to dream like to be a big
and I used to dream like to be a big
and I used to dream like to be a big actor one day
yes that’s wise place so tonight I want
yes that’s wise place so tonight I want to talk you I want to talk to you about
to talk you I want to talk to you about
to talk you I want to talk to you about this beautiful country Congo Congo is my
this beautiful country Congo Congo is my
this beautiful country Congo Congo is my country and is the second largest
country and is the second largest
country and is the second largest country in Africa and Congo the rich
country in Africa and Congo the rich
country in Africa and Congo the rich country full of minerals we have
country full of minerals we have
country full of minerals we have diamonds gold petrol silver copper
diamonds gold petrol silver copper
diamonds gold petrol silver copper coltan and they still discovering more
coltan and they still discovering more
coltan and they still discovering more more minerals in Congo but there is this
more minerals in Congo but there is this
more minerals in Congo but there is this mineral that called coltan who has a
mineral that called coltan who has a
mineral that called coltan who has a phone here cell phone laptop the coltan
phone here cell phone laptop the coltan
phone here cell phone laptop the coltan is the one is the mineral that make
is the one is the mineral that make
is the one is the mineral that make phones and laptop video games all of
phones and laptop video games all of
phones and laptop video games all of those machines and with those minerals
those machines and with those minerals
those machines and with those minerals it’s bring violence in my country he’s
it’s bring violence in my country he’s
it’s bring violence in my country he’s supposed to be a blessing for us as
supposed to be a blessing for us as
supposed to be a blessing for us as people Congolese but it’s like a curse
people Congolese but it’s like a curse
people Congolese but it’s like a curse in my country my father as I said it was
in my country my father as I said it was
in my country my father as I said it was an immigration officer in one day his
an immigration officer in one day his
an immigration officer in one day his work they saw something they should not
work they saw something they should not
work they saw something they should not see him and his colleague it was a truck
see him and his colleague it was a truck
see him and his colleague it was a truck full of guns
full of guns
full of guns who from Randa to Congo as you can see
who from Randa to Congo as you can see
who from Randa to Congo as you can see rundas neighbor country in Easton when
rundas neighbor country in Easton when
rundas neighbor country in Easton when they start asking questions about the
they start asking questions about the
they start asking questions about the truck these people can say don’t ask
truck these people can say don’t ask
truck these people can say don’t ask anything that lady trap us and they know
anything that lady trap us and they know
anything that lady trap us and they know we want to see as the asking questions
we want to see as the asking questions
we want to see as the asking questions you know our government is corrupt
you know our government is corrupt
you know our government is corrupt government they starting hurting them
government they starting hurting them
government they starting hurting them because of this knew about the trucks
because of this knew about the trucks
because of this knew about the trucks and one day became the killed one of my
and one day became the killed one of my
and one day became the killed one of my father’s colleague all of his family and
father’s colleague all of his family and
father’s colleague all of his family and my father was one of the targets ones
my father was one of the targets ones
my father was one of the targets ones and then one day when my father knew
and then one day when my father knew
and then one day when my father knew that he was the target he came home he
that he was the target he came home he
that he was the target he came home he says we want to live before we could
says we want to live before we could
says we want to live before we could leave people guns come home and take
leave people guns come home and take
leave people guns come home and take kill my father and my mother so me and
kill my father and my mother so me and
kill my father and my mother so me and my brother we run away we jump the
my brother we run away we jump the
my brother we run away we jump the window and we ran away
window and we ran away
window and we ran away so as we want to see our father’s friend
so as we want to see our father’s friend
so as we want to see our father’s friend he told us why are you coming here so
he told us why are you coming here so
he told us why are you coming here so you would get me killed to take this
you would get me killed to take this
you would get me killed to take this money and run don’t go to Rhonda but go
money and run don’t go to Rhonda but go
money and run don’t go to Rhonda but go to Uganda and when you reach Uganda just
to Uganda and when you reach Uganda just
to Uganda and when you reach Uganda just the authority there what you’ve been
the authority there what you’ve been
the authority there what you’ve been through so we run away to Uganda and
through so we run away to Uganda and
through so we run away to Uganda and when we reach Uganda we saw the
when we reach Uganda we saw the
when we reach Uganda we saw the authority they say also you hear you’re
authority they say also you hear you’re
authority they say also you hear you’re refugees that was my first time to hear
refugees that was my first time to hear
refugees that was my first time to hear a refugee my studies change I become a
a refugee my studies change I become a
a refugee my studies change I become a refugee and then they send us to refugee
refugee and then they send us to refugee
refugee and then they send us to refugee camp when we reach refugee camp in the
camp when we reach refugee camp in the
camp when we reach refugee camp in the refugee camp they give you food what
refugee camp they give you food what
refugee camp they give you food what kind of food 14 pounds of cones and four
kind of food 14 pounds of cones and four
kind of food 14 pounds of cones and four pound of beans and 1 liter of cooking
pound of beans and 1 liter of cooking
pound of beans and 1 liter of cooking oil no salt no sugar nothing and they
oil no salt no sugar nothing and they
oil no salt no sugar nothing and they says to us like you see this fund you
says to us like you see this fund you
says to us like you see this fund you will get an a food like this this date
will get an a food like this this date
will get an a food like this this date next month so you have to eat well too
next month so you have to eat well too
next month so you have to eat well too so that portion can make one month so
so that portion can make one month so
so that portion can make one month so because that’s was a little food it was
because that’s was a little food it was
because that’s was a little food it was a very little to us so you have to
a very little to us so you have to
a very little to us so you have to choose to eat once a day
choose to eat once a day
choose to eat once a day there is no breakfast no supper so we
there is no breakfast no supper so we
there is no breakfast no supper so we choose me my brother – it’s only once a
choose me my brother – it’s only once a
choose me my brother – it’s only once a day it was dinner so that we can sleep
day it was dinner so that we can sleep
day it was dinner so that we can sleep full
full
full it was so hard to live like that in a
it was so hard to live like that in a
it was so hard to live like that in a refugee camp and as a kid I was only 15
refugee camp and as a kid I was only 15
refugee camp and as a kid I was only 15 years old no friend without father
years old no friend without father
years old no friend without father without mother it was really hot there
without mother it was really hot there
without mother it was really hot there was no health center if you get sick you
was no health center if you get sick you
was no health center if you get sick you die and most of people that the children
die and most of people that the children
die and most of people that the children who could not make it because you eat
who could not make it because you eat
who could not make it because you eat that beans and cones January to December
that beans and cones January to December
that beans and cones January to December there was no another food there was no
there was no another food there was no
there was no another food there was no meat no fruit no vegetable no nothing so
meat no fruit no vegetable no nothing so
meat no fruit no vegetable no nothing so it was really hot and I used to remember
it was really hot and I used to remember
it was really hot and I used to remember how I used to throw food the way when I
how I used to throw food the way when I
how I used to throw food the way when I was home but all my dream night I used
was home but all my dream night I used
was home but all my dream night I used to I used read about food it was really
to I used read about food it was really
to I used read about food it was really hot in the first month I lost about 20
hot in the first month I lost about 20
hot in the first month I lost about 20 pound and it was crazy
pound and it was crazy
pound and it was crazy it was really really crazy no clothes no
it was really really crazy no clothes no
it was really really crazy no clothes no medication no school you can’t go back
medication no school you can’t go back
medication no school you can’t go back to school there is no school in the
to school there is no school in the
to school there is no school in the refugee camp
refugee camp
refugee camp there was no future I remember but there
there was no future I remember but there
there was no future I remember but there is a church in refugee camp there is a
is a church in refugee camp there is a
is a church in refugee camp there is a church I remember me and my brother we
church I remember me and my brother we
church I remember me and my brother we had like one pair of shoes with that one
had like one pair of shoes with that one
had like one pair of shoes with that one pair tooth you have to wear that one
pair tooth you have to wear that one
pair tooth you have to wear that one pair but we were lucky because me and
pair but we were lucky because me and
pair but we were lucky because me and him we have like a same size of food so
him we have like a same size of food so
him we have like a same size of food so he says we have to choose who will wear
he says we have to choose who will wear
he says we have to choose who will wear these shoes on Sunday only on Sundays
these shoes on Sunday only on Sundays
these shoes on Sunday only on Sundays when we go to church so because we grow
when we go to church so because we grow
when we go to church so because we grow up in a good family they show how to go
up in a good family they show how to go
up in a good family they show how to go to church and it was like a culture in
to church and it was like a culture in
to church and it was like a culture in our family to go to church every Sunday
our family to go to church every Sunday
our family to go to church every Sunday so we choose this weekend will be me and
so we choose this weekend will be me and
so we choose this weekend will be me and the other weekend will be him and as we
the other weekend will be him and as we
the other weekend will be him and as we just go like that
just go like that
just go like that that was our
that was our
that was our – it was really really hot as I say
– it was really really hot as I say
– it was really really hot as I say there was no bed we sleep on floor no
there was no bed we sleep on floor no
there was no bed we sleep on floor no good blanket there is this blanket they
good blanket there is this blanket they
good blanket there is this blanket they give to refugees like teaching but it
give to refugees like teaching but it
give to refugees like teaching but it was really really bad but I remember in
was really really bad but I remember in
was really really bad but I remember in the refugee camp I made a friend who
the refugee camp I made a friend who
the refugee camp I made a friend who called Patrick that friend was a
called Patrick that friend was a
called Patrick that friend was a comedian that I had ever known
comedian that I had ever known
comedian that I had ever known he makes jokes around he was also often
he makes jokes around he was also often
he makes jokes around he was also often like me same age same size and Patrick
like me same age same size and Patrick
like me same age same size and Patrick used to make people laugh than me so
used to make people laugh than me so
used to make people laugh than me so because me and him we had like one one
because me and him we had like one one
because me and him we had like one one one one thing we have in common to be
one one thing we have in common to be
one one thing we have in common to be comedian and we become friend I remember
comedian and we become friend I remember
comedian and we become friend I remember one day me and Patrick we study group
one day me and Patrick we study group
one day me and Patrick we study group and after the church service with all
and after the church service with all
and after the church service with all the people that we want to make some
the people that we want to make some
the people that we want to make some sketch something and then we did make
sketch something and then we did make
sketch something and then we did make dramas and people were like happy in
dramas and people were like happy in
dramas and people were like happy in refugee camp
refugee camp
refugee camp I never see people happy that day people
I never see people happy that day people
I never see people happy that day people were so happy and they said man this
were so happy and they said man this
were so happy and they said man this group supposed to go on we want this
group supposed to go on we want this
group supposed to go on we want this group to go on we will pay you in half
group to go on we will pay you in half
group to go on we will pay you in half because there is no money in camp we
because there is no money in camp we
because there is no money in camp we paid on food some lyosha so that we keep
paid on food some lyosha so that we keep
paid on food some lyosha so that we keep doing this because you know income these
doing this because you know income these
doing this because you know income these large problems large disease no
large problems large disease no
large problems large disease no medication and when we did that drama
medication and when we did that drama
medication and when we did that drama things people are so happy and they
things people are so happy and they
things people are so happy and they forget about their misery
forget about their misery
forget about their misery what’s so great but after year my friend
what’s so great but after year my friend
what’s so great but after year my friend Patrick got sick typhoid you know died
Patrick got sick typhoid you know died
Patrick got sick typhoid you know died for it and we took him to the hospital
for it and we took him to the hospital
for it and we took him to the hospital but there is no doctor there’s nothing
but there is no doctor there’s nothing
but there is no doctor there’s nothing you just sleep on the bed after week I
you just sleep on the bed after week I
you just sleep on the bed after week I thought Patrick I want to see him I said
thought Patrick I want to see him I said
thought Patrick I want to see him I said Patrick let me go home and then we’ll be
Patrick let me go home and then we’ll be
Patrick let me go home and then we’ll be something to eat so you get better after
something to eat so you get better after
something to eat so you get better after went back home
went back home
went back home I came after like two hours I found like
I came after like two hours I found like
I came after like two hours I found like Patrick passed away so I didn’t cry when
Patrick passed away so I didn’t cry when
Patrick passed away so I didn’t cry when my parent died because I was running but
my parent died because I was running but
my parent died because I was running but that day I cried so much I was like oh
that day I cried so much I was like oh
that day I cried so much I was like oh God why why us why everyone that I love
God why why us why everyone that I love
God why why us why everyone that I love have to die why why me what did i do
have to die why why me what did i do
have to die why why me what did i do what did we do
what did we do
what did we do so that deserve this life I had that
so that deserve this life I had that
so that deserve this life I had that question in my head and I was so mad to
question in my head and I was so mad to
question in my head and I was so mad to God to everyone why us why yes that day
God to everyone why us why yes that day
God to everyone why us why yes that day I cried so much I mixed like I mooned my
I cried so much I mixed like I mooned my
I cried so much I mixed like I mooned my parents death my friend Dave
parents death my friend Dave
parents death my friend Dave at the same time that day and it was
at the same time that day and it was
at the same time that day and it was really bad for me and I like keeping
really bad for me and I like keeping
really bad for me and I like keeping asking my brother why our father went to
asking my brother why our father went to
asking my brother why our father went to tell the authorities about the guns way
tell the authorities about the guns way
tell the authorities about the guns way so he didn’t keep quiet so that he’ll be
so he didn’t keep quiet so that he’ll be
so he didn’t keep quiet so that he’ll be alive and it was like how father was a
alive and it was like how father was a
alive and it was like how father was a good citizen he did what he supposed to
good citizen he did what he supposed to
good citizen he did what he supposed to do he wants to report because of the
do he wants to report because of the
do he wants to report because of the violence he knew that those guns will
violence he knew that those guns will
violence he knew that those guns will bring violence because those gun was at
bring violence because those gun was at
bring violence because those gun was at the government gardens it was from the
the government gardens it was from the
the government gardens it was from the people and God are corrupt who want
people and God are corrupt who want
people and God are corrupt who want money they want to disturb the won’t
money they want to disturb the won’t
money they want to disturb the won’t they mean rose see he was a good citizen
they mean rose see he was a good citizen
they mean rose see he was a good citizen that’s why he died for that so in my
that’s why he died for that so in my
that’s why he died for that so in my mind I was just a haka but I didn’t
mind I was just a haka but I didn’t
mind I was just a haka but I didn’t accept because I still miss them after
accept because I still miss them after
accept because I still miss them after Patrick died there is a father who came
Patrick died there is a father who came
Patrick died there is a father who came to us say we run away from war but we
to us say we run away from war but we
to us say we run away from war but we are also dying in this camp I bury to my
are also dying in this camp I bury to my
are also dying in this camp I bury to my two children here and it really had to
two children here and it really had to
two children here and it really had to appearance to bear to bury their own
appearance to bear to bury their own
appearance to bear to bury their own children so we are going back to Congo
children so we are going back to Congo
children so we are going back to Congo they went back with other families after
they went back with other families after
they went back with other families after six months they coming back again half a
six months they coming back again half a
six months they coming back again half a family
family
family and some none of the same and maybe they
and some none of the same and maybe they
and some none of the same and maybe they died and they told us man there is no
died and they told us man there is no
died and they told us man there is no home again maybe here we will die slowly
home again maybe here we will die slowly
home again maybe here we will die slowly but there is violence people are cutting
but there is violence people are cutting
but there is violence people are cutting people matches it’s really bad they come
people matches it’s really bad they come
people matches it’s really bad they come back and then that gives us hope became
back and then that gives us hope became
back and then that gives us hope became hopeless we can go back home we’re stuck
hopeless we can go back home we’re stuck
hopeless we can go back home we’re stuck in the refugee camp we’re just hoping
in the refugee camp we’re just hoping
in the refugee camp we’re just hoping maybe one day to be my time to die there
maybe one day to be my time to die there
maybe one day to be my time to die there and it was really really bad but after
and it was really really bad but after
and it was really really bad but after eight years in that camp full of misery
the United States come immigration they
the United States come immigration they came to help refugee like me who could
came to help refugee like me who could
came to help refugee like me who could not go back and who was stuck there
not go back and who was stuck there
not go back and who was stuck there it was a pad in the refugee camp because
it was a pad in the refugee camp because
it was a pad in the refugee camp because people even if me I knew I believe that
people even if me I knew I believe that
people even if me I knew I believe that United State is half paradise we jumped
United State is half paradise we jumped
United State is half paradise we jumped we celebrate because we knew that we are
we celebrate because we knew that we are
we celebrate because we knew that we are coming to America but the process is too
coming to America but the process is too
coming to America but the process is too long it took us three years for
long it took us three years for
long it took us three years for interviews and interviews medical
interviews and interviews medical
interviews and interviews medical screening and then we reach here last
screening and then we reach here last
screening and then we reach here last year in September when we came we reach
year in September when we came we reach
year in September when we came we reach an airport Columbus Airport we saw
an airport Columbus Airport we saw
an airport Columbus Airport we saw people came to see us we full of smile
people came to see us we full of smile
people came to see us we full of smile I don’t notice people but they’re
I don’t notice people but they’re
I don’t notice people but they’re smiling
smiling
smiling I had this yeah it was so crazy to see
I had this yeah it was so crazy to see
I had this yeah it was so crazy to see people don’t know but they’re smiling
people don’t know but they’re smiling
people don’t know but they’re smiling for you it was great feeling and say
for you it was great feeling and say
for you it was great feeling and say hello hello come come welcome welcome to
hello hello come come welcome welcome to
hello hello come come welcome welcome to America so they took us home and they
America so they took us home and they
America so they took us home and they give us food and the food was whole
give us food and the food was whole
give us food and the food was whole chicken everyone with all the chicken I
chicken everyone with all the chicken I
chicken everyone with all the chicken I I remember it’s all all the chicken even
I remember it’s all all the chicken even
I remember it’s all all the chicken even if we bones
if we bones
if we bones [Music]
all the bones I eat elder bones and I
all the bones I eat elder bones and I was oh my god this is good
was oh my god this is good
was oh my god this is good after 11 years to eat all the chicken oh
after 11 years to eat all the chicken oh
after 11 years to eat all the chicken oh it was great
it was great
it was great they took us to our room machine bed
they took us to our room machine bed
they took us to our room machine bed blanket that smell good it was so good
blanket that smell good it was so good
blanket that smell good it was so good to see bed again blanket
to see bed again blanket
to see bed again blanket that’s so good if it was cold that time
that’s so good if it was cold that time
that’s so good if it was cold that time it was so nice I remember I used to wake
it was so nice I remember I used to wake
it was so nice I remember I used to wake up and middle night just open the fridge
up and middle night just open the fridge
up and middle night just open the fridge and see all of these food is mine I
and see all of these food is mine I
and see all of these food is mine I could not believe I was like maybe I’m
could not believe I was like maybe I’m
could not believe I was like maybe I’m dreaming again order please wake up wake
dreaming again order please wake up wake
dreaming again order please wake up wake up
up
up no it’s not a dream it’s reality my god
no it’s not a dream it’s reality my god
no it’s not a dream it’s reality my god it was so great it was so so great but
it was so great it was so so great but
it was so great it was so so great but you see it’s not easy you know it is in
you see it’s not easy you know it is in
you see it’s not easy you know it is in mailbox bills every month and oh my god
mailbox bills every month and oh my god
mailbox bills every month and oh my god it’s so crazy you have to pay then
it’s so crazy you have to pay then
it’s so crazy you have to pay then people say it you have to pay if you
people say it you have to pay if you
people say it you have to pay if you don’t pay police will come take you to
don’t pay police will come take you to
don’t pay police will come take you to the jail and oh my god but thanks to
the jail and oh my god but thanks to
the jail and oh my god but thanks to refugees agencies like Chris us together
refugees agencies like Chris us together
refugees agencies like Chris us together Youth Family Center helped refugee to
Youth Family Center helped refugee to
Youth Family Center helped refugee to get jobs we get jobs and then the bill
get jobs we get jobs and then the bill
get jobs we get jobs and then the bill is not the issue anymore
we’re not I’m not in my dream house and
we’re not I’m not in my dream house and even I don’t have a car but you know
even I don’t have a car but you know
even I don’t have a car but you know life in Columbus without skies it’s
life in Columbus without skies it’s
life in Columbus without skies it’s really hard you’re stuck but I have this
really hard you’re stuck but I have this
really hard you’re stuck but I have this hope that’s one day everything will be
hope that’s one day everything will be
hope that’s one day everything will be fine as my brother used to me in the
fine as my brother used to me in the
fine as my brother used to me in the refugee camp
refugee camp
refugee camp I could not survive without my brother
I could not survive without my brother
I could not survive without my brother because he’s the man of faith
because he’s the man of faith
because he’s the man of faith now is pasta
now is pasta
now is pasta is the man of it he used to give me fish
is the man of it he used to give me fish
is the man of it he used to give me fish say man everything will be fine so
say man everything will be fine so
say man everything will be fine so that’s what I believe that everything
that’s what I believe that everything
that’s what I believe that everything will be fine and I knew that my father
will be fine and I knew that my father
will be fine and I knew that my father want us to go back to school now I’m
want us to go back to school now I’m
want us to go back to school now I’m going back to school to get my GED in
going back to school to get my GED in
going back to school to get my GED in Columbus Community College I’m doing GED
Columbus Community College I’m doing GED
Columbus Community College I’m doing GED preparation classes and life is it’s
preparation classes and life is it’s
preparation classes and life is it’s great it’s great I want to give you an
great it’s great I want to give you an
great it’s great I want to give you an advice
you know refugee keep coming some of
you know refugee keep coming some of them and you know in the refugee camp
them and you know in the refugee camp
them and you know in the refugee camp there is no supermarket there is not
there is no supermarket there is not
there is no supermarket there is not this technology and you can find people
this technology and you can find people
this technology and you can find people acting weird in the supermarket if it
acting weird in the supermarket if it
acting weird in the supermarket if it refugee please don’t be mad at him mad
refugee please don’t be mad at him mad
refugee please don’t be mad at him mad at him or her please help him because
at him or her please help him because
at him or her please help him because first time when I also want to Walmart
first time when I also want to Walmart
first time when I also want to Walmart see the door open itself and ah no no we
see the door open itself and ah no no we
see the door open itself and ah no no we have to be it so thank you so much thank
have to be it so thank you so much thank
have to be it so thank you so much thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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