you [Music]
yes my name is Caritas happy mana I am
yes my name is Caritas happy mana I am from Ronda 23 years ago I survived the
from Ronda 23 years ago I survived the
from Ronda 23 years ago I survived the genocide of Ronda a million people died
genocide of Ronda a million people died
genocide of Ronda a million people died in just a hundred days Rondon Hutus
in just a hundred days Rondon Hutus
in just a hundred days Rondon Hutus majority were killing Tutsis minority
majority were killing Tutsis minority
majority were killing Tutsis minority I’m here I’m grateful
I’m here I’m grateful
I’m here I’m grateful April usually takes us back I’m happy to
April usually takes us back I’m happy to
April usually takes us back I’m happy to be speaking today I divided my story in
be speaking today I divided my story in
be speaking today I divided my story in three pieces my happy life my story and
three pieces my happy life my story and
three pieces my happy life my story and then Colombia I was born in a very big
then Colombia I was born in a very big
then Colombia I was born in a very big family we were 13 children
family we were 13 children
family we were 13 children I’m the eleventh my father was also a
I’m the eleventh my father was also a
I’m the eleventh my father was also a refugee in Congo he came to Congo after
refugee in Congo he came to Congo after
refugee in Congo he came to Congo after the colonial power divided us measuring
the colonial power divided us measuring
the colonial power divided us measuring our noses and our height the only
our noses and our height the only
our noses and our height the only difference that make us fight until now
my father was a doctor he cream I found
my father was a doctor he cream I found a job back home he had his own cabinet
a job back home he had his own cabinet
a job back home he had his own cabinet he raised us fine and beautifully he
he raised us fine and beautifully he
he raised us fine and beautifully he gave us everything even shoes on our
gave us everything even shoes on our
gave us everything even shoes on our feet he was a good father my mom gave us
feet he was a good father my mom gave us
feet he was a good father my mom gave us love that’s why I remember love the real
love that’s why I remember love the real
love that’s why I remember love the real love I even remember fighting with my
love I even remember fighting with my
love I even remember fighting with my brothers because we needed to know who
brothers because we needed to know who
brothers because we needed to know who she loved the most
she loved the most
she loved the most she was a good mom in 1981 my daddy died
she was a good mom in 1981 my daddy died
she was a good mom in 1981 my daddy died with a cancer 1983 I finished my school
with a cancer 1983 I finished my school
with a cancer 1983 I finished my school and found a good job in the French
and found a good job in the French
and found a good job in the French Embassy in Rwanda back to Rhonda few
Embassy in Rwanda back to Rhonda few
Embassy in Rwanda back to Rhonda few years later I got married few years had
years later I got married few years had
years later I got married few years had beautiful three children
1990 the refugees outside the country
1990 the refugees outside the country asked the president if they could come
asked the president if they could come
asked the president if they could come back home
back home
back home the president said that there were no
the president said that there were no
the president said that there were no space for them they decided to come
space for them they decided to come
space for them they decided to come fighting since 92 94 they were fighting
fighting since 92 94 they were fighting
fighting since 92 94 they were fighting strongly fighting the UN were present
strongly fighting the UN were present
strongly fighting the UN were present and they were mediating these two
and they were mediating these two
and they were mediating these two parties April 6 1994 the president was
parties April 6 1994 the president was
parties April 6 1994 the president was coming from Arusha Tanzania from the
coming from Arusha Tanzania from the
coming from Arusha Tanzania from the peace treaty his airplane gosh Saddam he
peace treaty his airplane gosh Saddam he
peace treaty his airplane gosh Saddam he died Doucette the killing the same night
died Doucette the killing the same night
died Doucette the killing the same night they killed the Prime Minister declared
they killed the Prime Minister declared
they killed the Prime Minister declared the Hutus in opposition
the Hutus in opposition
the Hutus in opposition they killed Tutsis of course I could
they killed Tutsis of course I could
they killed Tutsis of course I could hear the sound of the guns people
hear the sound of the guns people
hear the sound of the guns people screaming the night April 7 oh I see
screaming the night April 7 oh I see
screaming the night April 7 oh I see were the airplanes living US embassies
were the airplanes living US embassies
were the airplanes living US embassies being closed they are living us in this
being closed they are living us in this
being closed they are living us in this chaos there were no hope April 9th
chaos there were no hope April 9th
chaos there were no hope April 9th the morning I was home waiting to die
the morning I was home waiting to die
the morning I was home waiting to die because they were killing in my
because they were killing in my
because they were killing in my neighborhood the militias were coming
neighborhood the militias were coming
neighborhood the militias were coming singing killed them kill them all killed
singing killed them kill them all killed
singing killed them kill them all killed those cockroaches I was so afraid I was
those cockroaches I was so afraid I was
those cockroaches I was so afraid I was just waiting for my family and I to be
just waiting for my family and I to be
just waiting for my family and I to be killed a cousin of my husband came
killed a cousin of my husband came
killed a cousin of my husband came running and told me that I was on the
running and told me that I was on the
running and told me that I was on the list I was the next one
list I was the next one
list I was the next one I was so diverted he said that we had to
I was so diverted he said that we had to
I was so diverted he said that we had to go I looked at him and I said where are
go I looked at him and I said where are
go I looked at him and I said where are we going we had a radio of the militias
we going we had a radio of the militias
we going we had a radio of the militias saying that the two Hutus that married
saying that the two Hutus that married
saying that the two Hutus that married the Tutsi have to die the children from
the Tutsi have to die the children from
the Tutsi have to die the children from the mixed marriage has to die the person
the mixed marriage has to die the person
the mixed marriage has to die the person that is hiding a Tutsi has to die
that is hiding a Tutsi has to die
that is hiding a Tutsi has to die my marriage was mixed where am I going
my marriage was mixed where am I going
my marriage was mixed where am I going nobody could even hide me
nobody could even hide me
nobody could even hide me he said let’s go through the back I
he said let’s go through the back I
he said let’s go through the back I followed him and we went through the
followed him and we went through the
followed him and we went through the back in the banana trees which have big
back in the banana trees which have big
back in the banana trees which have big leaves where we could hide behind but I
leaves where we could hide behind but I
leaves where we could hide behind but I didn’t even see where we were going to
didn’t even see where we were going to
didn’t even see where we were going to get he said
get he said
get he said just follow me we went to the Big Creek
just follow me we went to the Big Creek
just follow me we went to the Big Creek very wide and deep he said you have to
very wide and deep he said you have to
very wide and deep he said you have to jump as I can’t jump I don’t even know
jump as I can’t jump I don’t even know
jump as I can’t jump I don’t even know how to jump he said look he went back
how to jump he said look he went back
how to jump he said look he went back came running and jumped on the other
came running and jumped on the other
came running and jumped on the other side he said do it I looked in that Deep
side he said do it I looked in that Deep
side he said do it I looked in that Deep Creek and I saw the rocks and I said
Creek and I saw the rocks and I said
Creek and I saw the rocks and I said okay it’s better to die in these rocks
okay it’s better to die in these rocks
okay it’s better to die in these rocks it is a big cut by machetes I went back
it is a big cut by machetes I went back
it is a big cut by machetes I went back I came running and I jumped it wasn’t me
I came running and I jumped it wasn’t me
I came running and I jumped it wasn’t me the Angels carried me because I didn’t
the Angels carried me because I didn’t
the Angels carried me because I didn’t think about what I was doing I was on
think about what I was doing I was on
think about what I was doing I was on the other side we continued we went and
the other side we continued we went and
the other side we continued we went and got to the road now I could see a
got to the road now I could see a
got to the road now I could see a roadblock the militias out there with
roadblock the militias out there with
roadblock the militias out there with machetes with guns they are waiting I’m
machetes with guns they are waiting I’m
machetes with guns they are waiting I’m so afraid on that roadblock
so afraid on that roadblock
so afraid on that roadblock they said they were cutting heads and I
they said they were cutting heads and I
they said they were cutting heads and I was like this is my time my last prayer
was like this is my time my last prayer
was like this is my time my last prayer so we continued as we were about to
so we continued as we were about to
so we continued as we were about to arrive to the roadblock I saw this truck
arrive to the roadblock I saw this truck
arrive to the roadblock I saw this truck coming along and these militias went to
coming along and these militias went to
coming along and these militias went to talk to the truck that was carrying the
talk to the truck that was carrying the
talk to the truck that was carrying the soldiers and all the militias they were
soldiers and all the militias they were
soldiers and all the militias they were giving them guns machetes and drugs I
giving them guns machetes and drugs I
giving them guns machetes and drugs I passed
passed
passed we continued now I could see another
we continued now I could see another
we continued now I could see another roadblock coming up the hill I start to
roadblock coming up the hill I start to
roadblock coming up the hill I start to pray I’m passing through the bodies the
pray I’m passing through the bodies the
pray I’m passing through the bodies the blogs I even recognized my dentist with
blogs I even recognized my dentist with
blogs I even recognized my dentist with his family dead I knew I was going to
his family dead I knew I was going to
his family dead I knew I was going to die we continued until we arrived to the
die we continued until we arrived to the
die we continued until we arrived to the roadblock and then that truck came along
roadblock and then that truck came along
roadblock and then that truck came along again same scenario
again same scenario
again same scenario we passed now we were going to go
we passed now we were going to go
we passed now we were going to go through the houses to get to my hiding
through the houses to get to my hiding
through the houses to get to my hiding place we arrived there my mother-in-law
place we arrived there my mother-in-law
place we arrived there my mother-in-law saw me and she was so surprised you are
saw me and she was so surprised you are
saw me and she was so surprised you are here just getting the house she put me
here just getting the house she put me
here just getting the house she put me in the back room I said there she fed me
in the back room I said there she fed me
in the back room I said there she fed me as much she could feed me me want they
as much she could feed me me want they
as much she could feed me me want they attacked my family I don’t even know
attacked my family I don’t even know
attacked my family I don’t even know where my children are
where my children are
where my children are I don’t know where my husband is I don’t
I don’t know where my husband is I don’t
I don’t know where my husband is I don’t know where anybody is
know where anybody is
know where anybody is I stayed there she fed me whatever she
I stayed there she fed me whatever she
I stayed there she fed me whatever she had until the end of me where they were
had until the end of me where they were
had until the end of me where they were bombing the town she was so afraid and
bombing the town she was so afraid and
bombing the town she was so afraid and she said she had to go I was so happy
she said she had to go I was so happy
she said she had to go I was so happy she was living because I was afraid she
she was living because I was afraid she
she was living because I was afraid she would die in my place
she decided I had to move and get out my
she decided I had to move and get out my hiding place I was asking myself how I
hiding place I was asking myself how I
hiding place I was asking myself how I could go through these roadblocks again
could go through these roadblocks again
could go through these roadblocks again I told her to go and find a friend of us
I told her to go and find a friend of us
I told her to go and find a friend of us this man a Congolese so he can come and
this man a Congolese so he can come and
this man a Congolese so he can come and help me I don’t know where this idea
help me I don’t know where this idea
help me I don’t know where this idea came from the main camp I told him well
came from the main camp I told him well
came from the main camp I told him well what we want we need to do I said
what we want we need to do I said
what we want we need to do I said because they we don’t have the lights
because they we don’t have the lights
because they we don’t have the lights the all the lines are broken because of
the all the lines are broken because of
the all the lines are broken because of the bombing we it’s dark and light so we
the bombing we it’s dark and light so we
the bombing we it’s dark and light so we could go past these roadblocks speaking
could go past these roadblocks speaking
could go past these roadblocks speaking Lingala he said okay he was so brave we
Lingala he said okay he was so brave we
Lingala he said okay he was so brave we went together arrived to their first
went together arrived to their first
went together arrived to their first roadblock the chorus and he started
roadblock the chorus and he started
roadblock the chorus and he started talking to them into this broken King
talking to them into this broken King
talking to them into this broken King Aranda my I was asking what they were
Aranda my I was asking what they were
Aranda my I was asking what they were talking about in Lingala they said oh
talking about in Lingala they said oh
talking about in Lingala they said oh let those Congolese go we fast we did
let those Congolese go we fast we did
let those Congolese go we fast we did the same thing for three roadblocks and
the same thing for three roadblocks and
the same thing for three roadblocks and I arrived to another hiding place this
I arrived to another hiding place this
I arrived to another hiding place this house was a house of the grandparents of
house was a house of the grandparents of
house was a house of the grandparents of my husband but they died already has his
my husband but they died already has his
my husband but they died already has his sister lived there
sister lived there
sister lived there she was gone also because they were
she was gone also because they were
she was gone also because they were bombing the town the only person that
bombing the town the only person that
bombing the town the only person that was there was her maid Fatima Fatima
was there was her maid Fatima Fatima
was there was her maid Fatima Fatima puts me in this room and locks with a
puts me in this room and locks with a
puts me in this room and locks with a lock she said I’ll be taking care of you
lock she said I’ll be taking care of you
lock she said I’ll be taking care of you I stayed there with Fatima feeding me
I stayed there with Fatima feeding me
I stayed there with Fatima feeding me nothing just a little dough of corn
nothing just a little dough of corn
nothing just a little dough of corn sometimes dirty water sometimes that I
sometimes dirty water sometimes that I
sometimes dirty water sometimes that I could drink and take care of myself I’m
could drink and take care of myself I’m
could drink and take care of myself I’m a woman
a woman
a woman imagine we stayed together until
imagine we stayed together until
imagine we stayed together until beginning of June when Kigali was taking
beginning of June when Kigali was taking
beginning of June when Kigali was taking being taken by the rebels tuti people in
being taken by the rebels tuti people in
being taken by the rebels tuti people in South were moving toward us Fatima had a
South were moving toward us Fatima had a
South were moving toward us Fatima had a brother that was a militia
brother that was a militia
brother that was a militia he came where we were now I’m staying
he came where we were now I’m staying
he came where we were now I’m staying with 20 militias in the house evening
with 20 militias in the house evening
with 20 militias in the house evening time I will look in the crack of the
time I will look in the crack of the
time I will look in the crack of the window and I will see them eating
window and I will see them eating
window and I will see them eating talking about who they killed and how
talking about who they killed and how
talking about who they killed and how they killed it was a torture this time I
they killed it was a torture this time I
they killed it was a torture this time I don’t even know what to do I lay down
don’t even know what to do I lay down
don’t even know what to do I lay down upon my knees down I’m afraid even to
upon my knees down I’m afraid even to
upon my knees down I’m afraid even to sneeze or cough we stayed together until
sneeze or cough we stayed together until
sneeze or cough we stayed together until July 3rd when somebody came banging on
July 3rd when somebody came banging on
July 3rd when somebody came banging on the window and saying they are here they
the window and saying they are here they
the window and saying they are here they are here you have to go so the rebels
are here you have to go so the rebels
are here you have to go so the rebels are packing I can hear them packing
are packing I can hear them packing
are packing I can hear them packing their stuff they left even Fatima left I
their stuff they left even Fatima left I
their stuff they left even Fatima left I was in the house by myself until the
was in the house by myself until the
was in the house by myself until the morning July 4th I went and looked in
morning July 4th I went and looked in
morning July 4th I went and looked in the crack of the window again
the crack of the window again
the crack of the window again I saw the rebels outside how did I know
I saw the rebels outside how did I know
I saw the rebels outside how did I know people were surrendering I did the same
people were surrendering I did the same
people were surrendering I did the same I surrendered and I got up they took us
I surrendered and I got up they took us
I surrendered and I got up they took us to this big school and we stayed there
to this big school and we stayed there
to this big school and we stayed there for two weeks and then they said you can
for two weeks and then they said you can
for two weeks and then they said you can go and find it food I went where to
go and find it food I went where to
go and find it food I went where to check if there were some something I can
check if there were some something I can
check if there were some something I can hold on and cry go to my house my house
hold on and cry go to my house my house
hold on and cry go to my house my house was bombed went to see where my sister
was bombed went to see where my sister
was bombed went to see where my sister lived the house was gone
lived the house was gone
lived the house was gone killed they destroyed even the
killed they destroyed even the
killed they destroyed even the I went back luckily I found one of my
I went back luckily I found one of my
I went back luckily I found one of my cousin and then when they said go home
cousin and then when they said go home
cousin and then when they said go home we went together I stayed with her two
we went together I stayed with her two
we went together I stayed with her two weeks later my sister came from Colombia
weeks later my sister came from Colombia
weeks later my sister came from Colombia to Rhonda I could even believe my eyes
to Rhonda I could even believe my eyes
to Rhonda I could even believe my eyes she found me luckily because she saw
she found me luckily because she saw
she found me luckily because she saw somebody at the gas station that knew
somebody at the gas station that knew
somebody at the gas station that knew where I was and how did she know I was
where I was and how did she know I was
where I was and how did she know I was there
there
there the congolese that took me to my hide my
the congolese that took me to my hide my
the congolese that took me to my hide my second hiding place I wrote a little
second hiding place I wrote a little
second hiding place I wrote a little note and I said give this journal to my
note and I said give this journal to my
note and I said give this journal to my brother or sister in Congo he did my
brother or sister in Congo he did my
brother or sister in Congo he did my sister called my older sister here and
sister called my older sister here and
sister called my older sister here and they found me and then she took us to
they found me and then she took us to
they found me and then she took us to Kenya in two UN they accepted us because
Kenya in two UN they accepted us because
Kenya in two UN they accepted us because she had a passport an American passport
she had a passport an American passport
she had a passport an American passport we stayed in Kenya I started looking for
we stayed in Kenya I started looking for
we stayed in Kenya I started looking for my children in September I found my
my children in September I found my
my children in September I found my seven year five year and three years old
seven year five year and three years old
seven year five year and three years old they came and joined me in Kenya
in November I was in Colombia a
in November I was in Colombia a beautiful place it was November it was
beautiful place it was November it was
beautiful place it was November it was around Thanksgiving I remember there was
around Thanksgiving I remember there was
around Thanksgiving I remember there was no leaves on the trees I was so confused
no leaves on the trees I was so confused
no leaves on the trees I was so confused [Music]
[Music]
[Music] but I loved Colombia
but I loved Colombia
but I loved Colombia I stayed in Colombia with my family we
I stayed in Colombia with my family we
I stayed in Colombia with my family we cried we weren’t we did everything we
cried we weren’t we did everything we
cried we weren’t we did everything we could do but I felt like sitting in the
could do but I felt like sitting in the
could do but I felt like sitting in the corner and not even doing anything to
corner and not even doing anything to
corner and not even doing anything to rest
rest
rest I wanted to rest could I even rest I had
I wanted to rest could I even rest I had
I wanted to rest could I even rest I had to learn the language that was number
to learn the language that was number
to learn the language that was number one on the list I had to do something
one on the list I had to do something
one on the list I had to do something I have children we have to do something
I have children we have to do something
I have children we have to do something we have to work find a job cleaning job
we have to work find a job cleaning job
we have to work find a job cleaning job yes I had to work
it was so hard nobody could read your
it was so hard nobody could read your mind I was I didn’t understand where I
mind I was I didn’t understand where I
mind I was I didn’t understand where I was but life had to go on I got stronger
was but life had to go on I got stronger
was but life had to go on I got stronger and stronger 2007 I had a job in a
and stronger 2007 I had a job in a
and stronger 2007 I had a job in a daycare I was I worked there 6 years I
daycare I was I worked there 6 years I
daycare I was I worked there 6 years I was going up the street on Ash Street I
was going up the street on Ash Street I
was going up the street on Ash Street I see these people carrying loads on their
see these people carrying loads on their
see these people carrying loads on their heads I looked and I said this is my
heads I looked and I said this is my
heads I looked and I said this is my people I went and talked to them it
people I went and talked to them it
people I went and talked to them it happened I speak the same language I
happened I speak the same language I
happened I speak the same language I speak six languages which makes me
speak six languages which makes me
speak six languages which makes me connect with a lot of people so I gave
connect with a lot of people so I gave
connect with a lot of people so I gave some of them a ride home they’d even
some of them a ride home they’d even
some of them a ride home they’d even know how to store the food they didn’t
know how to store the food they didn’t
know how to store the food they didn’t know some of them were thinking that for
know some of them were thinking that for
know some of them were thinking that for a switch on the world because they can
a switch on the world because they can
a switch on the world because they can see the light they didn’t know they
see the light they didn’t know they
see the light they didn’t know they didn’t know how to use a wrench
didn’t know how to use a wrench
didn’t know how to use a wrench I looked at them and I said he fed me
I looked at them and I said he fed me
I looked at them and I said he fed me like a bird I quit my job I had to go
like a bird I quit my job I had to go
like a bird I quit my job I had to go and help these people they were losing
and help these people they were losing
and help these people they were losing their footstep because they don’t even
their footstep because they don’t even
their footstep because they don’t even know how to read at least I used
know how to read at least I used
know how to read at least I used dictionary they didn’t have anything I
dictionary they didn’t have anything I
dictionary they didn’t have anything I could even see how they we make it in
could even see how they we make it in
could even see how they we make it in this country I dedicated myself to them
this country I dedicated myself to them
this country I dedicated myself to them now I have phone calls from schools
now I have phone calls from schools
now I have phone calls from schools Hospital even from themselves asking
Hospital even from themselves asking
Hospital even from themselves asking myself why they got the tip I have to
myself why they got the tip I have to
myself why they got the tip I have to explain it’s the money they gave you
explain it’s the money they gave you
explain it’s the money they gave you because you did a good job those kind of
because you did a good job those kind of
because you did a good job those kind of call they are my family they are my
call they are my family they are my
call they are my family they are my friends we pray together they are here I
friends we pray together they are here I
friends we pray together they are here I have something I have to live with you
have something I have to live with you
have something I have to live with you they are among us I want you to
they are among us I want you to
they are among us I want you to recognize them not only you will change
recognize them not only you will change
recognize them not only you will change the lives they will change your lives –
the lives they will change your lives –
the lives they will change your lives – they are good citizen thank you
they are good citizen thank you
they are good citizen thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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