Rwandan Woman Shares Story of Hope and Survival

Ilibagiza lost most of her family and friends, but arose out of the conflict to become one of the country’s most outspoken survivors.

Immaculée Ilibagiza

(SALEM, Ore.) - Immaculée Ilibagiza survived Rwanda’s 100-day genocide to tell her story of faith and forgiveness that transcends the most brutal fear, suffering and loss.

The Rwandan survivor will speak at 7:00 PM March 28th at Willamette University’s Smith Auditorium in Salem. People who have suffered the effects of violence and abuse in their own lives and their friends, families, counselors and supporters are encouraged to attend the event.

"This life-changing message is being offered to challenge our community to embrace reconciliation and forgiveness as the ultimate sustainable solution to many of the world’s problems," said event organizer Christine Gilman.

Ilibagiza will share how she and seven other women huddled silently in a bathroom in her pastor’s house for 91 days of the 100 days of genocide experienced in Rwanda in 1994. The systematic murder of more than 800,000 Tutsis, as well as their moderate Hutu sympathizers, by members of the Hutu Tribe was the darkest period of the Rwandan Civil War.

Ilibagiza lost most of her family and friends, but arose out of the conflict to become one of the country’s most outspoken survivors. She has appeared on 60 Minutes and The Oprah Winfrey Show, among others.

Four years after the Rwandan tragedy, Ilibagiza immigrated to the United States and began working for the United Nations in New York City. She has since written a book, Left to Tell: Finding God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust. Profits from the book fund the Left to Tell Charitable Fund to help others heal from the long-term effects of the genocide and war.

Tickets are $24 and can be purchased through Rainbow West Bookstores and all Safeway TicketsWest ticket counters (www.tickets.west.com online).

For more information, visit truthreconciled.org.