This is Their Chance

Love them like I do

Waiting for the waiter to take her order, Marta looks happy with a smile of her face. When her phone rings with a Beyonce ringtone, she turns her head and looks at it. After a while, a young girl comes to her table, she looks at her and acts like they didn’t just meet few seconds ago. Looking at her in the small restaurant, you would think that she is just a happy young woman. The thing people don’t realize is that she was adopted nine years ago from an orphanage in Ethiopia. Living in a world that is becoming smaller and smaller, international adoptions, especially from Africa, occur more often than people think. The traditional family structure has evolved and had been replaced with a colorful, new integrated family. People who think that the only people who choose adoption are those who cannot have children on their own are often incorrect. The stereotype some people have about adoption is that adoption is like a huge children’s store where people go shopping, however, in this case adoption was one of the best things to have ever happened to Marta, “I am who I am because of the things I have been through,” she says.

 For other children however, this stereotype is correct.  Displayed like candies, children are presented wearing their best clothes and showing their best smiles. A lot of them are in promotion and their fees are reduced to attract buyers.  These buyers can choose the age of the child, the sex and even how dark they want their skin to be. Living in poverty, with little hope of bright future, children like these around Africa are waiting for better lives.  When they are chosen—sometimes as randomly as a lottery—they live in fear for months of leaving the only place they have ever known for an unknown land with a different culture. “We always hope they will be well treated and have a chance to become someone, but the fear of mistakes haunts us,” said John Zulimay, president of an orphanage in Kenya.

Both sides of the adoption process are looking for better futures for the children, the authorities inspect the backgrounds and current lives of the families making sure they are safe and prepared for a new child and the parents try to provide for children in need of affection.  Holy Wonnacott—mother of four biologic children and three adopted from Ethiopia, and Cherish Newman—mother of four biologic children and seven adopted from Ethiopia, are proof that adoption is a sign of unconditional love. They adopted several children from Ethiopia in addition to their own biological children.  In some cases, people travel into Africa and during their expedition; find the perfect little being they want. Sometimes it is the opposite; they discover the child for the first time, when they go pick him up. In both cases, “it is a magical thing,” said Wonnacott.

One of the biggest challenges is experienced when the adoption is done and families bring their new children home.  The language barriers and the culture differences become what people have to work on day-to-day; “I didn’t know how to communicate with my new family,” said Marta. Even if they have to adjust themselves to the new environment and that the first months are very trying, the parents try to make sure they “never lose their heritage,” said Wonnacott. Despite the concern evoked, adoption gives a second chance to those who didn’t think they had it. “They are my family. I have a mum and dad again.”

Jump off the Bridge

   Hoping that her future will be brighter than her past, Claudine Kuradusenge, a formal Utah Valley University student originally from Rwanda, is trying to connect her cultural background to her lonely life. Being a survivor of genocide, she had to live a daily nightmare and is not sure that she is awake. “The most awful thing is not to live a day-to-day life, it is to know that there is nothing we can change,” said Kuradusenge. She accepted the opportunity to discuss it and educate people on her campus about what is like to be from a bloody country.

   Complaining about her situation is a waste of time she said; Kuradusenge is grateful for being alive but sometimes she wished that that was not the case. She lost so many things and people, but the worst is that she lost the chance to have a normal childhood. Sitting in her classroom, sometimes she dreams about how life is so easy for certain people and not for others.

   “Sometimes I could hear her crying in the middle of the night and I wished I could do anything to help her, but I knew that she was the only one who could fight her demons,” said Nina, a long time friend of hers. By giving several speeches about her experience, she is hoping that she will be able to forget and forgive herself for things people did to her. She knows that she is not responsible for acts committed by others, but she can’t help it. Kuradusenge is looking for a freedom of mind, and knows that it is somewhere near but she cannot catch it yet. “I hope that someday I will wake up without having my pillows wet with tears.”

One More Tear

Sitting in front of her computer, Aline is listening to her favorite song, Vulindlela by Brenda Fassie. Her childhood memories and the voice of her passed mother singing that song as a bedtime story make her cry. Fassie, the South-African singer, united the continent through her music, by singing about love and life. Even if her life was as tragic as her death, her memory is still strongly alive.

Despite Being HIV-positive and addicted to cocaine, she portrayed the image of a powerful women, and people all around the continent listened to her hoping for a better future.  By taking part in the anti-apartheid struggle, she brought a new imagine to her country. “She gave us the energy needed to stand up for ourselves. She was an incredible woman,” said Anita, a 54 year old South-African woman.

“Her songs remind me the happiest moments of my life,” said Aline, a young Ugandan woman, with a smile on her face. She was more than a pop star, Fassie was the voice people had to listen to since she was there and didn’t want to go anywhere. Her strong personality helped people to identify with her and do what they couldn’t originally do.

On Sunday, may 9^th 2004, she passed away at the Sunning hill Hospital at Johannesburg, South Africa. “I cried so much that I felt sick,” said Anita. Her death was expected since she had been in coma since April 26, but it was still a shock for the nation. Even if she is gone, new generations are still influence by her work. 

Children for Sale

Adoption of children from Africa is becoming more and more popular these past years. Display like candies, children are presented wearing their best clothes and showing a great smile. People can choose the age of the child, the sex and even how dark they want their skin to be. A lot of them are in promotion and their fees are reduced to attract buyers. From Morocco, Nord Africa, to Namibia, South of Africa, children from five months to 15 years are waiting their future families. Presented like a great opportunity for those who cannot have children, adoption makes some worry about the true purpose behind it.  

Living in poverty, with little hope of bright future, children around Africa are waiting for better lives.  When they are chosen—like in a lottery—they live in fear for six to 18 months of leaving the only place they have ever known for an unknown land with a different culture. “We always hope they will be well treated and have a chance to become someone, but the fear of mistakes haunted us,” said John Zulimay, president of an orphan in Kenya.

Due to less and less children available for adoption here in the USA and the dream of self-serving, experts witnessed an increase of international adoptions. Utah is not excluded. “I have testimonies’ of parents—in Utah—struggling with their new children because they were not used to be only around white people,” said Zulimay. Adoption is a topical subject; even if the well being of a child is on the table, the guaranty of an adaption from both parts is questionable, but adoption agencies are growing fast and children in need also. “I keep wondering what is the best choice.” 

Never Forget

Look at my skull

Skulls of children, women and men killed from the beginning of the genocide in Rwanda, Africa, up until now, are subject of exposure. Thousands of people from around the world come every year to witness the cruel reality, the worst act of terrorism against human being ever committed.

The brightness of the building and the garden around it contrast with the story behind the walls. Nothing can prepare for what is exhibited inside the museum. Interring through the doors, people witness rooms filled with human bones, piles of small skulls and femurs, machetes and knives used to kill, and video of rape and slaughter committed during the time.For people to avoid the atrocity of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, the Memorial Centre was created. On April 7^th, 2004, for the 10^th anniversary of the genocide in Kigali City, Rwanda, a museum was inaugurated.  Available in three languages, Kinyarwanda—Rwandese dialect—French, and English, the exposure is divided into three main parts relating to the escalate history which led to the 100 days of intensive massacre. The first and largest part of the exhibition is documents, such as pictures of victims and their clothes, the second part is a children’s memorial and finally there is the history of the genocidal violence around the world. This place of remembrance is also the grave of over 250,000 victims. The memorial is a sign of hope for future generations; they shouldn't do the same mistakes as their parents.  

One of the African treasure

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgxAPIfaSzc
Enjoy one of the future African legend!

Miss Africa Utah 2011

Being African in Utah can be scary, but one person decided to show her origins proudly. Sitting on a bench, Fatoumata Tandia was looking in front of her with attitude, it was like she was telling everyone, “I am here and I am not going anywhere”. She became Miss Africa Utah 2011 on February 26, 2011 and swore that her continent would be proud of her accomplishment.

Originally from Mali, West Africa, Tandia came four years ago to study at Utah Valley University. Rapidly she became concerned about the well-being for her fellow students. She tried to find ways to educate people about Africa, and help them to forget all the misconceptions people have about her continent. “People believed that Africa was a country and were surprised when I said it was a continent,” said Miss Africa Utah 2011. It was unfortunate to her see how a lot of people didn’t have the desire to learn and experience the world outside the USA. With her young age, she tried to face her fears and show how great her origins made her. Her meeting with the President Holland, the actual UVU president, made her aware of the gigantic work she has to accomplish for African students to feel home in Utah County. Despite the fact that the African community in Utah County is very small, she hopes that they will have a big influence on people. She is trying to change the mentality and educate people through African dances and song with her African dance group, named Voice of Africa (VOACA). 

“Becoming Miss Africa Utah is a lifetime opportunity because it will help her to show that Africa is better than any place in the world,” said Christine, an African student. The goal she wants to accomplish is to create a small Africa at UVU. She would love to see a multicultural environment that pushes people to be more curious about what is to be from Africa. 

Official Languages in Africa

Hi guys, I found that interesting. As you can see, the African continent is divided in 8 official languages,and some have more than one. The thing not a lot of people know is that each country has its own dialects and it goes from 2 dialects to 250 dialects in one same country. AMAZING

Welcome to my world.

Hi everyone

This is my first post. let me start by introducing myself and explain why I want to share my passion for Africa.
My name is Claudine Kuradusenge, I was born in Rwanda (it is in central Africa) and grew up between Africa and Belgium (Europe). I moved a year ago in Utah (USA) and as an international students it hurt me when i realized that people had some misconception about my wonderful land, so i chose to help people to see how gorgeous the continent is. I will talk about all the different countries, languages or dialects, and food. I will also help you to plan any trip you would like to take.
Hopefully, you will understand what Africa Represent to me, and will learn to like it.