Lessons from a torn country

by Ruthanna Hutton-Okpalaeke (United States of America)

Making a local connection Cameroon

Shares

I spent the last two years living in the western region of Cameroon during a very contentious time in its history which could describe most of it honestly. While I witnessed countless events that impacted me I struggled immensely trying to share them, not coming from much of a writing background. I witnessed protests, conflict, and amazing connections between opposing sides in a country that is at war with itself. I saw tribalism and met many people who had given up hope in a future for its country and many who strive to improve it even now. I saw an ad for this program and it seemed like a way I might be able to find the words to share the amazing things I experienced during my time there and urge that has been gnawing at me since I left. In a world we are so involved in our immediate surroundings we rarely take the time to look outside of it I desire to show people that there are stories and places just a few thousand miles away that would seem like a whole different world from the life they are living and if they just looked they could open themselves to a whole new way thinking and understanding the planet we all live on.