It was also the last time he saw his father in person. It’s been 16 years since, and he still waits for the day he’ll meet his father again.
War broke out in his homeland of DR Congo while he was visiting his grandmother with his mother and 10-month-old sister, and they had to choose between staying and surviving. The young family fled DR Congo, then moved from one country to another in search of safety. In search of stability or any semblance of the life they had left behind.
Eventually, they made their way to Malawi, where Kenyatta and his younger sister grew up in Dzaleka Refugee Camp. As early evidence of his resourcefulness, he studied agriculture, among other subjects at school, because the food they received from an international organization was not enough. As a child, Kenyatta had to grow much of the food he ate.
In 2022, Kenyatta and his family were welcomed to Western Washington after they were invited by the U.S. government to rebuild their lives in the U.S. when war broke out in his homeland of DR Congo.
While navigating the new country and culture, Kenyatta learned about World Relief Western Washington’s Paradise Parking Plots Community Garden. Developed from land reclaimed from the parking lot of Hillside Church, the garden offers plots that can be leased by refugees and other immigrants.
“We represent more than 30 something countries, with each plot belonging to a different nation. I’ve seen a few plants that I’ve recognized, such as corn, the African maize … So we do see members growing something that they represent from back home that gives me a sense of joy,” says Kenyatta.
Kenyatta hopes to work with the UN and International Criminal Court to uphold justice for kids like him who were forced to flee.
Read more about Kenyatta's dreams for the future ✍️ https://worldrelief.org/blog-refugee-story/
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