my community channel

"They cut my mother to pieces because of an election but she was not interested in politics.  I don't know what they thought she had done."

Winnie is 13 years old and comes from the Rift Valley province in Kenya.  In 2007, after disputed elections, violence erupted across the country leading to an estimated 1,000 deaths and 260,000 people uprooted.  This is Winnie's story in her own words of how her mother was murdered and of her search for safety.

"My name is Winnie and until 2 years ago I had a very good life. I was lucky to be born to a good family.  My parents worked hard and were wealthy.  I went to the best school in the village, I ate the best food and I had never in my life been hungry.  At that time I thought that my life was normal and that it would always be this way.

Everything changed in December 2007.  My family were chased from our home during a riot.  I did not understand why this was happening but I knew we were in danger.  My mother was not very well so she fell behind us for a moment. It was for such a short time that I ran on ahead but it was still long enough for her to die. 

I turned and saw that she had been knocked down by a group of men. I stopped and watched them kill her.  They cut my mother to pieces because of an election but she was not interested in politics.  I don't know what they thought she had done.

My father, grandmother and I ran to a nearby church for safety but even there we were afraid, for we had heard stories of people burnt alive in church.

That night a group of us that had hidden in the church crept out and walked to a nearby town. It was empty and silent.  Nobody was out for fear of being killed. We walked on with no idea where to go.   For the first time in my life I was really hungry and thirsty from running but there was nothing to be had.  For many days we travelled at night, hiding in the day as best we could.

My father became weak and he died on the road.  I left him lying there alone.

One night as we were walking a lorry pulled up.  The driver told us that, hearing of the violence, he had come to collect his relatives.  He told us to jump in the back and that he would take us to safety.  We were all afraid, unsure if he could be trusted but it was the only thing to do

That man, whose name I never knew, saved us all.  He took us to South Kinangop where there was a camp for people who had fled from the danger. It was a safe place and the other people there were kind but it was not like my home.  There was just one small meal a day and there was never enough water.  I slept in a ragged tent with my grandmother and I missed my home, my bed, my clothes but most of all my parents.

A few weeks later we were visited by Sister Lucy from a nearby orphanage.  She came to talk about peace and forgiveness but she also took some of the children to stay with her.  I was lucky enough to be one of them and now I live in the Hope Community Centre.  We have food and new clothes and we got to school.  It is not as nice as my old home but still I know how lucky I am.
 
I have made friends now and I have learned to forgive the people that killed my parents because this is the only way there will be peace.  I am studying hard and I would love to be a lawyer when I am older so that I can fight for the rights of the weak in my country. I want to thank the people in other countries who give so that I and others like me can live."

World Emergency Relief have been funding the Hope Community Centre since 2002 and recently took part in a food distribution for the people in South Kinangop

For further information please contact: Ben Carter, Marketing and Communications Manager,
World Emergency Relief
20 York Buildings
London WC2N 6JU

Tel: 0870 429 2129

Email: ben@wer-uk.org