Lisa Karrer (b. 1957)

Station 8 Ceramic Forms: The United Nations Refugee Agency reports that in addition to UNHCR-issued quonset huts and tents,  “onsite renewables” such as solar mini-grids are vital for refugee camps, “enabling refugees to pursue education, businesses and social enterprises, spurring innovation and exponentially enhancing the safety and well-being of people and communities, until such time that they can return home.” 

Station 8 Video Scenarios: https://vimeo.com/507717512

Featuring: Janae Leonard, Watimbwa and Mwangaza Babingwa, Dido, Philip and June Knoerzer, Pamela Rose and Craig Mangus, Aqueira Oshun, and Gerald Ramsey.

Wehhedar

Burma / Language: Burmese

Hi how are you, my name is Wehhedar. I was born in Hleingbwe. When I was very young I moved from Hleingbwe to Umpiem refugee camp (in Thailand). I lived in Umpiem camp and I couldn’t go to school. I grew up with my aunt and uncle, separate from my parents, and I was very lonely. I couldn’t go to school because we could not afford it. I had to work for them instead. That was my life. My past life was very difficult, that’s why I am sad and upset.

Until I grew up my life was a struggle and I had to work very hard. Growing up, my life was struggling. Then I moved to America. America came to me, and I am very happy and glad. I am so thankful the U.S. recognized me as a refugee, and allowed me to leave the camp. From day one they were so welcoming to me. There is a good environment and good living here, there is food and shelter and everything I need. I met my husband here, I’m married, and I already have one child. Now I am pregnant with my second child, and there is good help for pregnancy. My agency (The Priscilla Project) is helping me and encouraging me, and that makes me glad.

My mom isn’t with me, she passed away. My dad moved to Australia as a refugee. But I had one very good friend from the camp, and I miss her. I also miss my country.

I live here now, and I have a good life. But I want to go back to my country and help my friends. I know that my life was a struggle, and I want to help my friends. If I could go back to the Thai camp, if I have money, I could help my friends there, who are struggling in very difficult situations. I would like to give them what I have, to speak with them, share my complete life with them, give them my warmth and peace, hug them. Why can’t it be this way in my country?

Compared to my life in the past, everything is ok now. This is my home, my heaven. I am living in the United States, I have a good husband, and I am happy with everything that I have. My agency is helping me and here I have a chance to go to school, unlike my home country, where I had no chance of an education in a Thai refugee camp.

The HELLO (program) comes to my house once a week and teaches me English. I can communicate and share with my teacher. I told her that I am very happy to talk to her and share the things that I feel. I am living here, I am happy, and I am receiving everything that I need. And I love all of my friends at the Priscilla Project!

Watimbwa
Democratic Republic of Congo / Language: Swahili

I want to tell the story of Congo. Back home, is the place where I was born and it is a nice place. The neighborhood was very nice. Even though there was war, the neighborhood was very nice, we had community. Neighbors would come to gather and talk about ideas and have fun, like playing soccer and that did help us to think more. When I think of back home, I think of those good memories.

I’m in America. How I was raised back home helps me be a good person here in America. I always thank God for the way I was raised. That is the story I always wanted to tell.

When I was very little, a small child, I did music in church. When I was little we would sing in church and we enjoyed that, singing in church, when I was very little. We would go play and take a bath in the lake. When we came back from the lake we would take a trip to other villages to see a movie.

Those are memories that make me happy. It’s inside me. Back home taught me the right thing. I am thankful for the lessons I received back home, the playing and the movies. I pray to God for my country and for the leaders who are running the country. God help them so that they can bring peace to the country. I am happy and I thank God for those memories and god bless you.

**Please note: Watimbwa’s narrative continues at Station #2 and Station #6

Yajaira
Colombia / Language: Spanish

When I interviewed Yajaira and her husband Oscar, they were in the process of establishing their status as asylum seekers.

I was born in La Guajira. My dad is dead now. But it was really fun growing up by the beach and the ocean. And so it was really calm, we would go out to the street, to the neighborhood. It was very clean and healthy. We would go out and play in the streets with our street friends and kids of the neighborhood. Well, when I was born, it was really peaceful outside, we would go out and run, play, we could easily have fun. I grew up with my classmates, and I had a good time. But then…

My mom still lives in Valledupar, and I eventually finished high school and then I went to live in Bogota where I met my husband. He was in the military. We got along really well, we would go out…you see, Colombia is a very beautiful country. Colombia is a country of diverse people, where there is a lot of things to do, and unfortunately we had to leave it. But we always miss it. We miss the food, the people who are very caring. They help you, and they let you know that if you need anything, you feel sure that you can ask for help. That’s the way we are - I myself as well. I like to collaborate, to help others, and I really miss that.

I miss home, I miss feeling free in my own country and in one way or another I miss being with my people. And so it is really very sad to have to leave them behind, after getting to know them from the beginning. And all of this is because God makes things happen for a reason, and I’ve always said that.

But there’s beauty in it, for example in Valledupar they celebrate the Vallenato festival, that’s where all the big actors go. Everybody goes there, and it’s super fun. And when one is used to this kind of life, one will miss all that.

I also love the United States. I like the people here. The people are really nice, it’s quiet. And who knows, maybe one day, I’d like to go back to Colombia. That’s where I was born, and raised, where I had my defining moments and memories during childhood, and that gives me a warm feeling and joy. And that’s what I miss.

**Please note: Yajaira’s narrative continues at Station #2

Edith
Democratic Republic of Congo / Language: Swahili and English

(Edith begins speaking in English, then switches to Swahili to tell her story, and finishes her narrative in English)

When we were in Congo, life was really good. We would play. We had family there, aunts and uncles and siblings. I was 11 years old when the war started. I saw my neighbors die. Then we just had to flee. Some other people were coming from Congo. But that time we were in Goma.

That is how we connected with this group that was fleeing from another place through Goma. We decided to go with that group. When we were on our way we would have to walk over dead bodies. While we kept going we saw people with guns shooting people. I don’t know if they were rebels or the army because they didn’t have uniforms. It was a lot of people, children, and mothers. Some of the mothers were raped in that process. It was very sad. And where we had come from you just have to walk. It’s such a long distance and some people were carrying their children. Some people were wounded but they still had to walk. It was very sad.

But home is home. And God helped us until we reached the country called Kenya. When we arrived in Kenya we didn’t know anyone. We started the refugee process. God helped us. Life wasn’t that good but we went to school. We were older but since we didn’t know English they put us in Kindergarten with little children, even though we were passed that grade. We finished our studies, and had to keep living that way until we came to America.

**Please note: Edith’s narrative continues at Station #6