Rose Mapendo at the White House

On June 20, 2008, an incredible woman named Rose Mapendo addressed the United States of America alongside the First Lady in honor of World Refugee Day at the White House. Ten years ago, she was imprisoned with her family during the ethnic conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo; her journey from seemingly hopeless beginnings to her present station as an advocate of peace and support for refugees has inspired the creation of an organization that continues to provide sanctuary for refugees, Mapendo International. Founded by 2006 Echoing Green Fellow Sasha Chanoff, Mapendo International works to fill the critical and unmet needs of people affected by war and conflict who have fallen through the net of humanitarian assistance.

Rose’s presence at the White House that day represented the amazing progress of her decade-long struggle to reunite her family after living through a dark, violent time in human history. When the Rwandan Tutsi army invaded the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1998, the country’s President Kabila identified the Tutsis as national enemies; members of this ethnic group faced certain death if they were captured. Rose and her husband had seven children. They were arrested, taken from their home, and put in prison. Rose’s husband was executed. Shortly afterward, Rose realized that she was pregnant. She gave birth to twins on the prison floor and managed to keep them alive in spite of overwhelming odds. She was then relocated to a refugee camp in Kinshasa, where conditions were still extremely dangerous. Discovered by a U.S. rescue team, who managed to secure her passage to the United States, she was able to resettle in Arizona and focus on raising her children. Since then, she has become an international spokesperson for refugees worldwide. Mapendo means “great love” in Swahili; it is symbolic of Rose’s love for her family and communities, her commitment to advocacy for those in need, and her moving gratitude for the gifts in her life.

Two years ago, Echoing Green met with Arts Engine, a producer of socially conscious independent media, to discuss a potential film on outstanding social entrepreneurs and their organizations— including Sasha Chanoff and Mapendo International. As the discussion progressed, it sparked an interest in producing a film on Rose herself. Today, that film is in the making. It is a documentary that tells the story of Rose’s reunion with her daughter, Nangabire. They were separated during the onset of war, and Rose was unable to find Nangabire when she was rescued. However, Nangabire survived; the film captures her transition from her grandparents’ home in Nairobi to her family’s new life in Arizona. The reunion is joyful, yet extremely complicated. After a childhood and adolescence without her mother and siblings, Nangabire confronts the challenges of reintegration into a life that bears no resemblance to anything she knows. Produced by Arts Engine and Big Mouth Films, the film promises to be a provocative and inspiring window into an extraordinary story that is far from over. If you are interested in providing much-needed support for this documentary-in-progress, please contact Lara at lara@echoinggreen.org.

To read more about Rose’s journey, click here. For her full remarks on World Refugee day, click here. Mrs. Bush’s full remarks on the same occasion can be viewed here.