[Applause] my name is Artem Angelico in I come from
my name is Artem Angelico in I come from
my name is Artem Angelico in I come from Uganda in northern region I grew up in a
Uganda in northern region I grew up in a
Uganda in northern region I grew up in a very happy
very happy
very happy god-fearing family where by prayers and
god-fearing family where by prayers and
god-fearing family where by prayers and helping each other was a solution to
helping each other was a solution to
helping each other was a solution to life and your future my dream was to
life and your future my dream was to
life and your future my dream was to become a lawyer by them but at the age
become a lawyer by them but at the age
become a lawyer by them but at the age of 14 years old all my dreams were
of 14 years old all my dreams were
of 14 years old all my dreams were shattered in 1996 I was abducted among
shattered in 1996 I was abducted among
shattered in 1996 I was abducted among the girls from Saint Mary’s College
the girls from Saint Mary’s College
the girls from Saint Mary’s College ibaka by a rebel leader by a rebel group
ibaka by a rebel leader by a rebel group
ibaka by a rebel leader by a rebel group that was fighting corn by then a hundred
that was fighting corn by then a hundred
that was fighting corn by then a hundred and thirty nine girls reach the
and thirty nine girls reach the
and thirty nine girls reach the destination on that first day and sister
destination on that first day and sister
destination on that first day and sister who was our deputy headmistress
who was our deputy headmistress
who was our deputy headmistress Sarah Kelly followed us and pleaded for
Sarah Kelly followed us and pleaded for
Sarah Kelly followed us and pleaded for the rescue of the girls it was fortunate
the rescue of the girls it was fortunate
the rescue of the girls it was fortunate or unfortunate only 109 girls who are
or unfortunate only 109 girls who are
or unfortunate only 109 girls who are released that ovas remain that was the
released that ovas remain that was the
released that ovas remain that was the beginning of hell to us we were beaten
beginning of hell to us we were beaten
beginning of hell to us we were beaten we were threatened and we were told not
we were threatened and we were told not
we were threatened and we were told not to escape if he escaped then all of us
to escape if he escaped then all of us
to escape if he escaped then all of us will be will die
life in the bush was really terrible we
life in the bush was really terrible we were divided to the rebel men who are
were divided to the rebel men who are
were divided to the rebel men who are forced into sexual violence we were
forced into sexual violence we were
forced into sexual violence we were abused and we experienced all forms of
abused and we experienced all forms of
abused and we experienced all forms of torture beside that when told not to
torture beside that when told not to
torture beside that when told not to talk to each other
talk to each other
talk to each other it was really hard to see your friend
it was really hard to see your friend
it was really hard to see your friend your fellow student as a stranger from
your fellow student as a stranger from
your fellow student as a stranger from there it was so difficult because it was
there it was so difficult because it was
there it was so difficult because it was so difficult for me because I come from
so difficult for me because I come from
so difficult for me because I come from a light family who cared for each other
a light family who cared for each other
a light family who cared for each other and loved each other I was seen as a
and loved each other I was seen as a
and loved each other I was seen as a ringleader because they thought I was
ringleader because they thought I was
ringleader because they thought I was mobilizing the girls to escape and every
mobilizing the girls to escape and every
mobilizing the girls to escape and every time they keep on punishing me beating
time they keep on punishing me beating
time they keep on punishing me beating me torturing me not to escape but I
me torturing me not to escape but I
me torturing me not to escape but I never gave that whole I knew that at one
never gave that whole I knew that at one
never gave that whole I knew that at one point I’ll go back home despite all the
point I’ll go back home despite all the
point I’ll go back home despite all the mum all the difficulties and sufferings
mum all the difficulties and sufferings
mum all the difficulties and sufferings there were times that I had hope I
remember I used to pray so much I come
remember I used to pray so much I come from a strong Christian family and I
from a strong Christian family and I
from a strong Christian family and I could pray that none of my family
could pray that none of my family
could pray that none of my family members could really be abducted and
members could really be abducted and
members could really be abducted and each time that there were captives
each time that there were captives
each time that there were captives coming in and I see around and I don’t
coming in and I see around and I don’t
coming in and I see around and I don’t see any of my family members I thank God
see any of my family members I thank God
see any of my family members I thank God and again that hope again in 2002 there
and again that hope again in 2002 there
and again that hope again in 2002 there was a woman who had three children and
was a woman who had three children and
was a woman who had three children and the rebel leader I wanted to take some
the rebel leader I wanted to take some
the rebel leader I wanted to take some of the women back to you
of the women back to you
of the women back to you and anyway in this in Sudan by then she
and anyway in this in Sudan by then she
and anyway in this in Sudan by then she told me to promise for our child that if
told me to promise for our child that if
told me to promise for our child that if I’m escaping I have to escape with the
I’m escaping I have to escape with the
I’m escaping I have to escape with the child it was really so difficult because
child it was really so difficult because
child it was really so difficult because people were dying life was so had we
people were dying life was so had we
people were dying life was so had we were into ambushes but I had to promise
were into ambushes but I had to promise
were into ambushes but I had to promise her little did I know that this woman
her little did I know that this woman
her little did I know that this woman was not going to reach Uganda when the
was not going to reach Uganda when the
was not going to reach Uganda when the reach at the border she died with some
reach at the border she died with some
reach at the border she died with some other women when I heard of her death I
other women when I heard of her death I
other women when I heard of her death I even stayed stronger to live for the
even stayed stronger to live for the
even stayed stronger to live for the girl because I knew that was her wish
girl because I knew that was her wish
girl because I knew that was her wish and I had to fulfill that promise that I
and I had to fulfill that promise that I
and I had to fulfill that promise that I made to the matter the head but I never
made to the matter the head but I never
made to the matter the head but I never gave up just to live for the girl
despite all the torture there were
despite all the torture there were moments that I believe that God is alive
protecting me I escaped I escaped death
protecting me I escaped I escaped death several times innocently I was
several times innocently I was
several times innocently I was threatened to be killed
threatened to be killed
threatened to be killed and this really kept me moving on eight
and this really kept me moving on eight
and this really kept me moving on eight years eight years in captivity with
years eight years in captivity with
years eight years in captivity with suffering and pain
I’ve been longing for this day and I
I’ve been longing for this day and I hear a voice like talking to me that
hear a voice like talking to me that
hear a voice like talking to me that this is the time at first I thought like
this is the time at first I thought like
this is the time at first I thought like this wasn’t news to me because all this
this wasn’t news to me because all this
this wasn’t news to me because all this eight years I have been trying to escape
eight years I have been trying to escape
eight years I have been trying to escape trying to think of how I can live the
trying to think of how I can live the
trying to think of how I can live the rebel group but I couldn’t but this
rebel group but I couldn’t but this
rebel group but I couldn’t but this voice kept on over and over game just at
voice kept on over and over game just at
voice kept on over and over game just at around 11 a.m. in the defense that was
around 11 a.m. in the defense that was
around 11 a.m. in the defense that was staying in there was attack and looking
staying in there was attack and looking
staying in there was attack and looking at the girl by that time she was nine
at the girl by that time she was nine
at the girl by that time she was nine years old
years old
years old beside me I carried the three-year-old
beside me I carried the three-year-old
beside me I carried the three-year-old girl on my back and we started rushing
girl on my back and we started rushing
girl on my back and we started rushing towards Juba town because we were in
towards Juba town because we were in
towards Juba town because we were in Sudan and there was a mother that I was
Sudan and there was a mother that I was
Sudan and there was a mother that I was carrying the child and she was the child
carrying the child and she was the child
carrying the child and she was the child was three years old and she never wanted
was three years old and she never wanted
was three years old and she never wanted us to go to escape but I couldn’t leave
us to go to escape but I couldn’t leave
us to go to escape but I couldn’t leave that child because I knew if I had to
that child because I knew if I had to
that child because I knew if I had to leave the child the child would not live
leave the child the child would not live
leave the child the child would not live that was the time that I gained my hope
that was the time that I gained my hope
that was the time that I gained my hope again and I said I knew that I would
again and I said I knew that I would
again and I said I knew that I would escape I knew and I first that strong
escape I knew and I first that strong
escape I knew and I first that strong that I have to live and that was the
that I have to live and that was the
that I have to live and that was the time for me I feel so blessed because I
time for me I feel so blessed because I
time for me I feel so blessed because I managed to escape with this guy I
managed to escape with this guy I
managed to escape with this guy I managed to escape with a three-year-old
managed to escape with a three-year-old
managed to escape with a three-year-old girl and the mother who never wanted to
girl and the mother who never wanted to
girl and the mother who never wanted to come I thank God that we all escaped the
come I thank God that we all escaped the
come I thank God that we all escaped the journey shaped me into what I am today
journey shaped me into what I am today
journey shaped me into what I am today I loved I have love for this children
I loved I have love for this children
I loved I have love for this children and I never gave up them I remember when
and I never gave up them I remember when
and I never gave up them I remember when I came at the rehabilitation center well
I came at the rehabilitation center well
I came at the rehabilitation center well vision rehabilitation center and the way
vision rehabilitation center and the way
vision rehabilitation center and the way the staffs were taking care of the
the staffs were taking care of the
the staffs were taking care of the children the way there were nothing the
children the way there were nothing the
children the way there were nothing the wounds I just felt like this is home
wounds I just felt like this is home
wounds I just felt like this is home this is what I want to do I went back to
this is what I want to do I went back to
this is what I want to do I went back to college I did guidance and counseling
college I did guidance and counseling
college I did guidance and counseling and I came back I was employed as a
and I came back I was employed as a
and I came back I was employed as a counselor at well vision rehabilitation
counselor at well vision rehabilitation
counselor at well vision rehabilitation center in 2012 and the center was
center in 2012 and the center was
center in 2012 and the center was already closing during my time helping
already closing during my time helping
already closing during my time helping the formerly abducted women and the
the formerly abducted women and the
the formerly abducted women and the children that was the clear clear vision
children that was the clear clear vision
children that was the clear clear vision that I saw that I have to work for the
that I saw that I have to work for the
that I saw that I have to work for the children who were born of sexual
children who were born of sexual
children who were born of sexual violence in 2013 when the product
violence in 2013 when the product
violence in 2013 when the product project was closed I formed watching
project was closed I formed watching
project was closed I formed watching again what it again means we have hope
again what it again means we have hope
again what it again means we have hope we have hope it’s a community-based
we have hope it’s a community-based
we have hope it’s a community-based organization working for working to
organization working for working to
organization working for working to support the children and their rights
support the children and their rights
support the children and their rights and their welfare in northern region the
and their welfare in northern region the
and their welfare in northern region the name wattage again was chosen by 85
name wattage again was chosen by 85
name wattage again was chosen by 85 mothers to reflect the fact that they
mothers to reflect the fact that they
mothers to reflect the fact that they Astro they have faith they have hope
Astro they have faith they have hope
Astro they have faith they have hope that their voice their faith and their
that their voice their faith and their
that their voice their faith and their work shall contribute to the welfare of
work shall contribute to the welfare of
work shall contribute to the welfare of the children they themselves and the
the children they themselves and the
the children they themselves and the community that they live in
last actually this year one of the child
last actually this year one of the child that was so lovely
that was so lovely
that was so lovely she died innocently with no pain no
she died innocently with no pain no
she died innocently with no pain no sickness but she was just position we
sickness but she was just position we
sickness but she was just position we felt so bad and we thought this should
felt so bad and we thought this should
felt so bad and we thought this should not continue again to other children and
not continue again to other children and
not continue again to other children and how I hope continued seeing the children
how I hope continued seeing the children
how I hope continued seeing the children born in captivity growing peace building
born in captivity growing peace building
born in captivity growing peace building their self-esteem and the way they see
their self-esteem and the way they see
their self-esteem and the way they see themselves is what motivates me and
themselves is what motivates me and
themselves is what motivates me and energized me and that is why I am here I
energized me and that is why I am here I
energized me and that is why I am here I still have hope and we have hope that
still have hope and we have hope that
still have hope and we have hope that because we are the victims we are the
because we are the victims we are the
because we are the victims we are the survivors and we are the women’s of this
survivors and we are the women’s of this
survivors and we are the women’s of this children we can change the situation of
children we can change the situation of
children we can change the situation of this children we have hope that may many
this children we have hope that may many
this children we have hope that may many more donors will come to support our
more donors will come to support our
more donors will come to support our organization daily directly because
organization daily directly because
organization daily directly because there are hundreds of children who are
there are hundreds of children who are
there are hundreds of children who are still suffering silently there in the
still suffering silently there in the
still suffering silently there in the community we have hoped that the
community we have hoped that the
community we have hoped that the children bond out of sexual violence
children bond out of sexual violence
children bond out of sexual violence shall be freed by our voice and we are
shall be freed by our voice and we are
shall be freed by our voice and we are now documenting their success story we
now documenting their success story we
now documenting their success story we have hoped that our voice may rescue and
have hoped that our voice may rescue and
have hoped that our voice may rescue and encourage other survivors outside there
encourage other survivors outside there
encourage other survivors outside there to advocate for their rights as they
to advocate for their rights as they
to advocate for their rights as they live in the community thank you
live in the community thank you
live in the community thank you you
”
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