Help Fulfill Olgita's Dreams - Hopes & Healing
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Introduction
Why am I doing this fundraiser? And why do I want to head back to Africa for my family? Good questions! Let me take you back in time a bit, and I’ll explain.
(To those friends and family who are just now learning so much more about me: I apologize for not having been completely open in our relationship before. Please understand this was, and still is, a sensitive subject for me to talk about. So, before I go any further, I just want to say sorry from the bottom of my heart and that your friendships, care and open arms will never go unrecognized).
Okay, here we go!
Tragedy in Africa
Back in 1995, when I was 4 years old, I tragically lost my entire family in Malawi. I went almost overnight from being a happy, joyful kid who was full of light, living under one roof with my parents and baby sister, to becoming an orphan. Soon after the burial of my family I went to live in Burundi with my grandmother (my mama’s momma). She was very kind to me, but my inner light was dimmed further when, shortly after arriving in Burundi, I lost her as well. After the passing of my grandmother I was sent to live with her mother (yes, my great-grandmother!) but due to her age and frail condition, she decided to send me to my dad’s sister in Canada. She knew this would provide me with a better future and opportunity, and that this was one of my parents’ final wishes.
In 1999 started my journey to Canada, literally walking from country to country across Africa, but through it all I encountered many helpful, generous strangers (as it appeared to me from a child’s perspective). I lived in a refugee camp the longest, for roughly a year, but at this point I wasn’t as depressed as one would imagine, because now I had a goal and mission. Yes, at age 7, I had a very clear goal (to get to Canada) and a mission for after I arrived there. My mission was to rescue my great-grandmother, my Bibi, the closest remaining family still in Africa, and bring her to a new life in Canada. But this dream was cut short, because soon after arriving in Canada I received news that my Bibi had also passed away.
A New Home in Canada, but Family Never Forgotten
I was eventually brought to Canada, through the efforts of the UNHCR, World Vision, and the Pentecostal Church, arriving in Deer Lake, Newfoundland in 2002. I was welcomed by my aunt and the caring hearts of the local people. I was finally in a beautiful and safe country, but the child in me could never stop thinking of my lost family back in the motherland of Africa.
Despite having crossed half the world and achieving my goal of reaching Canada, I sometimes felt like I had nothing left to live for. But despite the darkness in my soul I kept trying to spark the light of hope and remember the wise words from the three strong beautiful women of my life, all of whom I’d now lost. My mamma, my grand-mamma and my Bibi always told me:
You’re a strong, brave, kind-hearted, beautiful girl. Your family will always love you and forever be in your heart, everywhere you go. Never forget who you are, and never forget your family and the love we have for you, "notre fille chérie" meaning “our sweet girl".
Guarding these words close to my heart is one of the things that has helped to keep me positive when I am feeling low. And as I’ve grown up in Canada, I’ve tried my best to live up to the faith shown in me, and to be the best person I can be. I started my first job with a paper route at 10, and when we moved to Fort McMurray at age 12, I started working at a local McDonalds to help my aunt with the bills. At 15 I moved out on my own, working and going to school as I fanned the faint light that had once shone so brightly within me. It was hard, but the memories of my family, and the voice of my Bibi telling me that I was not being abandoned and that I was only sent away for a better life, kept me going. Today, I live in British Columbia and I’m training to be a dental assistant, with the dream of one day being a dentist.
My Mission
A feeling of obligation has weighed on my heart and has never left my thoughts. And from here a new mission has formed: to finally take that trip back to Africa, to rebuild my family’s burial sites, starting with my mama, papa, and baby sister resting in Malawi and then proceed on to my grandma and Bibi resting in Burundi. I have one close remaining family member in Africa (who means so much to me): my Bibi’s husband, Papa Mizo. I just recently was able to reconnect with him via phone after 25 years of separation, and to be able to see him again in person would be the cherry on top of my hoped-for journey!
Life is still full of challenges, and sometimes I fall down and have to pick myself up again. I have a mission for my family which I’m determined to accomplish, but I realize that I probably can’t do it on my own. This is why I’m now asking for help.
I’m raising funds to cover my expenses for travel to Africa after 17 years (and 25 years since seeing/going to the burial site of my loved ones). My mission is to rebuild the burial sites of my family in Malawi and Burundi, in order to achieve healing and closure. My hope is to accomplish this mission in 2020.
The money will be divided into the following items:
o Travel costs from Canada to Malawi, from Malawi to Burundi, and from Burundi back to Canada
* estimated $9,832
o Travel costs while in Africa (local transportation, food, hostels and the inevitable unexpected costs that come up)
* estimated $9,920
o Searching for the sites (as they’re poorly marked), and construction of new grave markers
* estimated $1,840
The total estimated cost is CAD $21,592.
* Travel estimates are based on two people as I will need emotional and moral support as well as security.
It would be a blessing to receive funding and support from you. I believe in the power of unity and how fulfilling our dreams require help from the entire village. Every donation counts, so please give what feels comfortable to you. I’m grateful for any and all assistance - if you can't contribute financially (it’s okay!), I ask that you keep me in your thoughts and prayers, as moral support is greatly appreciated as well.
Looking beyond my own story, I’ve been inspired to set a goal to create a Foundation with the intention of helping other displaced people to fulfill their dreams of visiting their lost family and homeland. I was reliant on the charity of others for a long time during my travels, and I want to be like all those kind, generous people who’ve helped me along the way.
Below are some photos with descriptions beneath each. (Please excuse the poor quality)
My lovely Parents (Més Parent).
My baby sister (Linda) getting a bath (this is the only photo I have of her).
My stunningly gorgeous grand-momma and my mama as a young girl.
My lovely parents with me as a new born (this was shortly after mama gave birth to me).
In this photo is my beautiful Bibi (dressed in white) and me (my hair is in ringlets) with some relatives.
Little young me with Papa Mizo.
Me, Pastor Paul, and some family friends (who helped Bibi with my schooling). This photo was after a spiritual ceremony.
This photo is of myself, and from what I remember my childhood best friend in Malawi named Paola with an uncle, and aunt after the loss of my baby sister, and Papa. At this point my mama was bed ridden in the hospital. (I am hoping with the spread of this campaign I can get information on the whereabouts of the family of this little girl [in the striped overalls] as her parents might hold answers to many of my life-long questions).
Me, and some neighbourhood friends in Malawi before I lost my family to sickness. (I am hoping with the spread of this campaign I can get information on the whereabouts of the families of these boys as their parents might hold answers to many of my life-long questions).
My mama, grand-momma, me, and aunt (who I lived with in Canada) with some relatives.
Me walking into the Deer Lake terminal for the first time with my travel escort.
My first day arriving in Deer Lake, Newfoundland welcomed by Mrs. Norma Windsor (one of the kind hearted ladies behind the movement in helping me come to Canada), my Aunt, and community members.
This is me today at a beach that I come to often, to reminisce about my family and pray for their guidance in all that I do in life.
Why am I doing this fundraiser? And why do I want to head back to Africa for my family? Good questions! Let me take you back in time a bit, and I’ll explain.
(To those friends and family who are just now learning so much more about me: I apologize for not having been completely open in our relationship before. Please understand this was, and still is, a sensitive subject for me to talk about. So, before I go any further, I just want to say sorry from the bottom of my heart and that your friendships, care and open arms will never go unrecognized).
Okay, here we go!
Tragedy in Africa
Back in 1995, when I was 4 years old, I tragically lost my entire family in Malawi. I went almost overnight from being a happy, joyful kid who was full of light, living under one roof with my parents and baby sister, to becoming an orphan. Soon after the burial of my family I went to live in Burundi with my grandmother (my mama’s momma). She was very kind to me, but my inner light was dimmed further when, shortly after arriving in Burundi, I lost her as well. After the passing of my grandmother I was sent to live with her mother (yes, my great-grandmother!) but due to her age and frail condition, she decided to send me to my dad’s sister in Canada. She knew this would provide me with a better future and opportunity, and that this was one of my parents’ final wishes.
In 1999 started my journey to Canada, literally walking from country to country across Africa, but through it all I encountered many helpful, generous strangers (as it appeared to me from a child’s perspective). I lived in a refugee camp the longest, for roughly a year, but at this point I wasn’t as depressed as one would imagine, because now I had a goal and mission. Yes, at age 7, I had a very clear goal (to get to Canada) and a mission for after I arrived there. My mission was to rescue my great-grandmother, my Bibi, the closest remaining family still in Africa, and bring her to a new life in Canada. But this dream was cut short, because soon after arriving in Canada I received news that my Bibi had also passed away.
A New Home in Canada, but Family Never Forgotten
I was eventually brought to Canada, through the efforts of the UNHCR, World Vision, and the Pentecostal Church, arriving in Deer Lake, Newfoundland in 2002. I was welcomed by my aunt and the caring hearts of the local people. I was finally in a beautiful and safe country, but the child in me could never stop thinking of my lost family back in the motherland of Africa.
Despite having crossed half the world and achieving my goal of reaching Canada, I sometimes felt like I had nothing left to live for. But despite the darkness in my soul I kept trying to spark the light of hope and remember the wise words from the three strong beautiful women of my life, all of whom I’d now lost. My mamma, my grand-mamma and my Bibi always told me:
You’re a strong, brave, kind-hearted, beautiful girl. Your family will always love you and forever be in your heart, everywhere you go. Never forget who you are, and never forget your family and the love we have for you, "notre fille chérie" meaning “our sweet girl".
Guarding these words close to my heart is one of the things that has helped to keep me positive when I am feeling low. And as I’ve grown up in Canada, I’ve tried my best to live up to the faith shown in me, and to be the best person I can be. I started my first job with a paper route at 10, and when we moved to Fort McMurray at age 12, I started working at a local McDonalds to help my aunt with the bills. At 15 I moved out on my own, working and going to school as I fanned the faint light that had once shone so brightly within me. It was hard, but the memories of my family, and the voice of my Bibi telling me that I was not being abandoned and that I was only sent away for a better life, kept me going. Today, I live in British Columbia and I’m training to be a dental assistant, with the dream of one day being a dentist.
My Mission
A feeling of obligation has weighed on my heart and has never left my thoughts. And from here a new mission has formed: to finally take that trip back to Africa, to rebuild my family’s burial sites, starting with my mama, papa, and baby sister resting in Malawi and then proceed on to my grandma and Bibi resting in Burundi. I have one close remaining family member in Africa (who means so much to me): my Bibi’s husband, Papa Mizo. I just recently was able to reconnect with him via phone after 25 years of separation, and to be able to see him again in person would be the cherry on top of my hoped-for journey!
Life is still full of challenges, and sometimes I fall down and have to pick myself up again. I have a mission for my family which I’m determined to accomplish, but I realize that I probably can’t do it on my own. This is why I’m now asking for help.
I’m raising funds to cover my expenses for travel to Africa after 17 years (and 25 years since seeing/going to the burial site of my loved ones). My mission is to rebuild the burial sites of my family in Malawi and Burundi, in order to achieve healing and closure. My hope is to accomplish this mission in 2020.
The money will be divided into the following items:
o Travel costs from Canada to Malawi, from Malawi to Burundi, and from Burundi back to Canada
* estimated $9,832
o Travel costs while in Africa (local transportation, food, hostels and the inevitable unexpected costs that come up)
* estimated $9,920
o Searching for the sites (as they’re poorly marked), and construction of new grave markers
* estimated $1,840
The total estimated cost is CAD $21,592.
* Travel estimates are based on two people as I will need emotional and moral support as well as security.
It would be a blessing to receive funding and support from you. I believe in the power of unity and how fulfilling our dreams require help from the entire village. Every donation counts, so please give what feels comfortable to you. I’m grateful for any and all assistance - if you can't contribute financially (it’s okay!), I ask that you keep me in your thoughts and prayers, as moral support is greatly appreciated as well.
Looking beyond my own story, I’ve been inspired to set a goal to create a Foundation with the intention of helping other displaced people to fulfill their dreams of visiting their lost family and homeland. I was reliant on the charity of others for a long time during my travels, and I want to be like all those kind, generous people who’ve helped me along the way.
Below are some photos with descriptions beneath each. (Please excuse the poor quality)
My lovely Parents (Més Parent). My baby sister (Linda) getting a bath (this is the only photo I have of her). My stunningly gorgeous grand-momma and my mama as a young girl. My lovely parents with me as a new born (this was shortly after mama gave birth to me). In this photo is my beautiful Bibi (dressed in white) and me (my hair is in ringlets) with some relatives. Little young me with Papa Mizo. Me, Pastor Paul, and some family friends (who helped Bibi with my schooling). This photo was after a spiritual ceremony.This photo is of myself, and from what I remember my childhood best friend in Malawi named Paola with an uncle, and aunt after the loss of my baby sister, and Papa. At this point my mama was bed ridden in the hospital. (I am hoping with the spread of this campaign I can get information on the whereabouts of the family of this little girl [in the striped overalls] as her parents might hold answers to many of my life-long questions). Me, and some neighbourhood friends in Malawi before I lost my family to sickness. (I am hoping with the spread of this campaign I can get information on the whereabouts of the families of these boys as their parents might hold answers to many of my life-long questions).My mama, grand-momma, me, and aunt (who I lived with in Canada) with some relatives. Me walking into the Deer Lake terminal for the first time with my travel escort.My first day arriving in Deer Lake, Newfoundland welcomed by Mrs. Norma Windsor (one of the kind hearted ladies behind the movement in helping me come to Canada), my Aunt, and community members.This is me today at a beach that I come to often, to reminisce about my family and pray for their guidance in all that I do in life.Organizer
Olgita Lvm
Organizer
Victoria, BC
