Rose Mapendo is a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo. She was arrested during the violence in the late 1990s and imprisoned with her seven children, while her husband was murdered.
Rose moved to the United States after fleeing the DRC and co-founded Mapendo New Horizons, an organisation that protects and cares for forgotten refugees. The organization works to ensure refugees have easy access to health care, protection and security.
Elizabeth Mandel is a filmmaker and the co-producer of “Pushing the Elephant”, which details Rose’s life in the DRC, move to the United States and her mission for peace.
The British government understands the importance of assisting the people of the DRC. Last week, the Government announced that the DRC is one of 27 countries where UK Aid will concentrate resources and impact. As the DFID website explains, “we will focus our efforts on delivering more for poor people – promoting economic growth and wealth creation and helping build peace, stability and democracy. Improving the lives of girls and women will be a major priority”.
(The story is told in her own words, and is not a reflection of UK Government policy.)