I meet Francis Sendago Monday at RISSE, the Refugee Immigrant Support Services of Emmaus. Sendago is the Operations Director of RISSE, he came to the United States from Rwanda, where he survived the horrific Rwandan genocide, one of the worst in modern times.
In just 100 days in 1994, some 800,000 people were slaughtered in Rwanda by ethnic Hutu extremists targeting members of the minority Tutsi community, as well as their political opponents. Before he came to the United States, Sendago was in a refugee camp for nearly ten years.
He says he was fortunate, he was one of the very few people to make it out alive to America, which was a beacon of hope and safety to him and so many others, most of whom never made it here.
Sendago is a quiet and soft-spoken man, I will be working with him at RISSE to meet some of the refugees getting assistance there and writing about the organization. We are beginning out relationship by seeking $1,200 to put together 80-90 art kits for the children in their arts and English and after school program.
Yesterday, we raised $500, we have $800 to go to put together the kits we need.
Talking to Francis Sendago, I realize how much we take for granted in America, I can’t imagine what he saw and felt. It is difficult for me to see that we are turning our backs on people like Sendago, when we have always welcomed them. It is cruel and dishonest to suggest that immigrants and refugees are criminals or terrorists. It will cost many innocent people their lives.
RiSSE is overwhelmed by the refugees need for classes, support and child care and education. The art kits are powerful way to connect these children from America, a strange country to them. Creativity is empowering, the kits give the children to express themselves, to find their voices and build their confidence.
Many refugees mourn their friends and family members who suddenly cannot get into the United States. I want to write about the refugees and immigrants so that other people can see what I see: these are people, just like us. The art kids are a good way to start, to show these children the real heart and soul of America.
Francis is not her to harm anyone, take their jobs or hurt people. America saved his life, and he is repaying this debt with hard work and good deeds every day. I look forward to getting to know him.
If you can help with the art kids, you can click here. And thank you.