by SHILOH SOPHIA MCCLOUD
Rwandan native and survivor of the genocide in Rwanda, Marie Claudine Mukamabano speaks to the audience about her family, life, hopes, dreams, accomplishments, inspirations and insights at the UNCSW58, the 58th year of the UN Commission on the Status of Women conference in New York, in March 2014. SOURCE/Jonathan Lewis/WNN
(WNN) United Nations New York, UNITED STATES, AMERICAS: As twenty years has passed since the genocide in Rwanda brought devastation to over what the United Nations estimates as 800,000 people, one woman is shining a light on the disaster. Her name is Marie Claudine Mukamabano. And she speaks of stepping over the bodies as if it was yesterday.
This horrific time in her life and country was also the catalytic moment that would shape the rest of her future, and the future of orphans in Rwanda. When I attended the 58th year of the UNCSW – United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York, there was something so incredibly compelling about Marie Claudine’s approach to sharing her message. It was different than other UN panels that often had a ‘cry-for-help’ message.
What was Marie Claudine’s message? I had to know more.
Was it her joy that drew me? Come to find out it was. I was fascinated by her capacity to speak of tragedy with such candid storytelling, and at the same time exude what seemed like overflowing joy. Marie Claudine’s panel, “Economic Empowerment for Women and Girls through social media, entrepreneurship and technology” struck me. First of all, we opened with a prayer to a ‘Creative God’ and classical musician Schubert’s song Ave Maria, with Marie Claudine giving thanks to God.
In the panel were women that Marie Claudine had studied with in the creation of her own not-for-profit called the Kuki Ndiho (Why Do I Exist?) Foundation, and organization set up to help Rwandan orphans.
I thought of the beauty of this. For the panel she brought her very own teachers to us to educate us. As she introduced each woman Marie Claudine, who most recently graduated from the International Trauma Studies Program in New York with Colombia University Professor Jack Saul, shared how women had specifically helped her along her path.
While the presence and cause of Why Do I Exist.org was the backdrop, Marie Claudine was clearly here to help orphans and raise awareness. Her approach was education that empowers. Her panel didn’t ‘just talk’ about the topics, it was a class for those present in the room including multi-media training on how we too can get the word out about our own causes.
http://youtu.be/20NxBFBnVUM
Women News Network for more