Why I Stayed in Rwanda | Carl Wilkens | TEDxUrsulineCollege

Why I Stayed in Rwanda During the Genocide: Finding Allies Among Enemies
Carl Wilkens moved his young family to Rwanda in the spring of 1990 serving as a humanitarian aid worker. When the genocide was launched in April 1994, Carl refused to leave and was the only American to remain in the country. Venturing out each day into streets crackling with mortars and gunfire, he worked his way through roadblocks of angry, bloodstained soldiers and civilians armed with machetes and assault rifles in order to bring food, water and medicine to groups of orphans trapped around the city. His actions saved the lives of hundreds. In January 2008, with no end in sight to the ongoing genocide in Darfur, Sudan, Carl decided to quit his job and dedicate himself full time to accepting these invitations. He and his wife Teresa have since formed an educational nonprofit, World Outside My Shoes, to facilitate this important work.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@dhrits93]

Who has come here after seeing his name on Humans of New York? 🙌

[@suzziesuzzie3313]

Dhriti Shastry lol me

[@laraking804]

Dhriti Shastry yup! 🙋‍♀️

[@parthasarathim1620]

Me!

[@itznevaehplayz2735]

Me!!

[@harmonifam4265]

🙋🏾‍♀️

[@amandadealvarez3787]

I hope someone who came here after reading the HONY stories will post this to the site. This is such a powerful presentation of why forgiveness and grace are a better solution than vengeance. And forgiveness, grace and tolerance are an active choice. Thank you Carl and Teresa Wilkens for making that so clear to us.

[@thekclv9855]

He has made the Seventh Day Adventist church to have a special place in the hearts of the people of Rwanda. He was the director of ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency) during the genocide. Thank you sir.

[@sashaeltekeh2618]

He is so right about stories reaching hearts...the stories I read on HONY impacted me so much more than the movies Hollywood put out about this genocide and other civil wars around the world. I am so happy social media groups like HONY exist to bring the stories of these people to our home right from our screens.

[@julianboakye8993]

HONY brought me here.

[@SharPieInTheDesert]

Julian Boakye me too! I researched about him immediately.

[@richardhedden1278]

Excellent presentation Carl. We will always appreciate the choices you have made and have the deepest respect for you and your family. Loved the part of the presentation when Theresa stepped onto the stage with you.! Richard and Immaculee

[@craggerrs]

Devastating situations will always have their examples of heroism and this man's and his family's is certainly one of them. Thank you so much for all that you do. Great speech. God Bless

[@itznevaehplayz2735]

Me too!!!

[@ameliajones3069]

A hero man! I can't stop my tears by hearing your story Carl😢 You have a great and good heart, you exposed your life in a risky situation to save people in need! I Thank you from deep of my heart, you and your wife who encouraged you to stay and to help people. It was not easy oh my God!!! May Jesus bless you all! 🙌 I m Rwandese and know the genocide.

[@modernlifeisrubbis0663]

Had the honor of meeting Carl when he visited our high school this past week. Very inspiring!!

[@amityaduvanshi3811]

Thank you so much for your service to humanity Sir!

[@charlotteuwase9025]

You a true hero thank u for saving our people god will always bless u

[@JustRaine97]

Amazing story. I can't imagine the horrors he's witnessed, but he remains hopeful and compassionate.

[@blakebellamy82]

He spoke to the political science students at MTSU and I bought his book after hearing him speak. It was incredible and it made me what to travel to Africa and help in anyway I can.

[@rasikadeshmukh9267]

Carl wilkens is d real hero love from India 🇮🇳 we salute you sir u did a great job🙏

[@boskieg]

I just met this guy at my high school. Incredible guy with a incredible story!

[@idrissasow644]

What a "Great Man".

[@davidbirney4694]

Here cause HONY

[@thewatev00x]

Hero.

[@stahl_rosen]

I still can’t believe the man himself came to my school

[@reasondubenion6524]

I'm here from my college class FFC.

[@starella.]

lmao he presented at my school today

[@starella.]

he came to Hopkins junior high today

[@annikacheng7007]

star ella do you know where we can find the video that he showed today? The one with the stories of the rwandans? Not the vimeo one, but the other one

[@starella.]

@@annikacheng7007 which video

[@starella.]

@@annikacheng7007 i only found the movie with the animated pictures

[@annikacheng7007]

star ella its fine i found it

[@starella.]

@@annikacheng7007 whats the video

[@littythanatity]

Why do u people tell our story that's our story let us tell it to everyone we went through rough times without you so let us tell our story.

[@douglasmubirigi4414]

dont be that fast to speak without focus, id suggest you to hear again. were all Rwandans and its better to not speak sometimes but listen.