Growing up in Boston, Massachusetts,
Petna Ndaliko Katondolo was verbally, emotionally, and physically abused by strangers, so-called “friends”,
and even teachers for his Congolese ancestry.
Feeling like an outsider, Petna turned all his energy to the arts, which allowed him to seek refuge and gave him the ability to fully express himself. Recently, the filmmaker teamed up with the organization Yolé! Africa, which gives Congolese people a
voice through film and music programs.
“When I see the resiliency of the
Congolese people, I can see where my family learned an ethic of never giving up
and believing in a brighter day despite living in the darkest depths of
despair.”
-Petna Ndaliko Katondolo
While some kids have stars in their eyes and aspire to become athletes, actors, or even rappers, Narcisse Mbunzama only had one dream: to graduate high school and study computer science in college. At the age of 15, however, Narcisse found his dream in serious jeopardy when a group of armed forces stormed his high school and forced
all the boys to become child soldiers in the DRC. After
three years of living in the military training camp, Mbunzama was extricated
from the army, by members of the Catholic Church, and fulfilled his dream of
graduating high school and receiving a college degree. Having
reached his dream, Mbunzama was overcome with a need to help others do the
same.
Narcisse developed Mobile Agribusiness, a free web and mobile app available in four national languages, to resolve the agricultural difficulty
Congolese farmers faced. The app connects farmers to critical agriculture and
market information (weather, crop pricing etc.) and equips them with the right
educational tools needed to enhance productivity, increase income, and empower
a new generation of financially independent farmers.
It's nice to see that these men have found strength through their struggles and are now giving back to their community.
It's nice to see that these men have found strength through their struggles and are now giving back to their community.
- FARIDA
No comments:
Post a Comment