Rwandese Genocide Survivor to Speak in Chicago

Immaculée Ilibagiza

Immaculée Ilibagiza, Rwandese born author will be speaking Saturday, june 28 to a group of fellow imigrants from Rwanda and the East African region. Ilibagiza was born in Rwanda where she lived and studies before 1994 when her life transformed dramatically during the Rwandan genocide. During this tragic moment, Ilibagiza and seven other women huddled silently together in a cramped bathroom of a local pastor’s house for 91 days!

Four years after the Rwandan tragedy,Immaculée immigrated to the United States and began working for the United Nations in New York City. She has since established the Left to Tell Charitable Fund to help others heal from the longterm effects of genocide and war. Left to Tell has sold more than 250,000 copies worldwide, been made into a documentary, and through her Left to Tell Charitable Fund has raised over $150,000 for the orphans of Rwanda.

The event is being organized by the East African national community associations in Chicago which include: United Kenyans of Chicago NFP (UKC), Tanzania Community Association - Midwest USA, Uganda Community Association of Chicago land and Midwest Rwandan Community Association.

Scheduled activites will include Workshop and resource information on how to start and run your business in Illinois offered by Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, SCORE and others; Panel presentation titled Our stories in business. Chicago area East African entreprenuers speak and a cultural program.

The event will be held at the UIC Forum at 725 W Roosevelt Rd. (MC 126). Chicago, IL 60608. There will be a discount for current national association members. for more information, visit: http://www.chicagokenyans.org/events.html