https://padlet.com/barnhill_1/9274gllp6p1g Made with joy en-us 2018-05-04 12:31:13 UTC 2025-12-24 06:59:56 UTC hello@padlet.com barnhill_1 https://padlet.com/barnhill_1/9274gllp6p1g/wish/258002600 I was in Nakivale refugee camp in Uganda in 2011 getting shelter from rain. There I met the reporter. The reporter said the visit to Nakivale had been part of a ‘charity challenge’ through Australia for UNHCR, but he was a  journalist he was also eager to hear the personal experiences of the refugees and took advantage of being separated from my group to talk to some of the people living at the camp.]]> 2018-05-04 12:40:34 UTC https://padlet.com/barnhill_1/9274gllp6p1g/wish/258002600 barnhill_1 https://padlet.com/barnhill_1/9274gllp6p1g/wish/258044151 Congolese refugee I had performed at the concert with his hip-hop dance group – Wise 4ever Crew – and was keen to share my story. I was born and raised in Goma, North Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has undergone massive unrest ever since 2004, as conflict between the DRC military and the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda have ]]> 2018-05-04 14:17:45 UTC https://padlet.com/barnhill_1/9274gllp6p1g/wish/258044151 barnhill_1 https://padlet.com/barnhill_1/9274gllp6p1g/wish/258044679 escalated.
In 2011 I had already been in the refugee camp for four years. I had been forced to flee with my family when the Civil War escalated and after my father had been tragically killed in the fighting.
“We didn’t only lose my dad, but we also lost everything we owned. We had a shop and it was robbed and burnt down. We had nothing left to go back for, that’s why we left,” said.]]> 2018-05-04 14:18:56 UTC https://padlet.com/barnhill_1/9274gllp6p1g/wish/258044679 barnhill_1 https://padlet.com/barnhill_1/9274gllp6p1g/wish/258046193 At that stage he was hoping to be resettled soon, and when I mentioned living in Australia he was keen.
“If god is willing,” I said.
im now 22 and through Facebook he was able to discover my story had a happy ending. After moving to the US in 2012, I was now studying civil engineering and hopes to transfer to North Carolina State University this year after two years at a local technical college.  ]]> 2018-05-04 14:22:12 UTC https://padlet.com/barnhill_1/9274gllp6p1g/wish/258046193 barnhill_1 https://padlet.com/barnhill_1/9274gllp6p1g/wish/258046492 “I live with my mum and sister. I’m a full time sophomore, doing civil engineering and I work 30 hours per week at my school’s bookstore,” I said via Facebook.
For now, I was focused on my studies and am planning my participation in North Carolina State University’s study abroad program. “I’m actually going to Paris in January 2015 through the study abroad program and I will stay there till mid-May 2015. Until then (graduation), I’m only trying to live like any other American college boy,” says.]]> 2018-05-04 14:22:53 UTC https://padlet.com/barnhill_1/9274gllp6p1g/wish/258046492 barnhill_1 https://padlet.com/barnhill_1/9274gllp6p1g/wish/258047017 then (graduation), I’m only trying to live like any other American college boy,” I said]]> 2018-05-04 14:24:04 UTC https://padlet.com/barnhill_1/9274gllp6p1g/wish/258047017