My Mother's Dreams
First I would like to say that I am so happy to see that after a long time (more than 30 years) since I started to write My Mother’s Dreams, I can hold it in my hands. And I can tell you that I believe no one will regret spending their precious time reading it! Anyone who reads it will benefit a lot from it. The most important feedback I am getting from several people who have read it is that; as soon as you start reading My Mother’s Dreams, it is hard to put it down. It has parts where you will laugh aloud, and other parts where you will cry. Technically, this book appeals to both ends of the spectrum, happiness and sadness.
My experiences living in four different countries when I were young
I believed that were two reasons I passed some hard parts in my life. I had very bad memories first when we were in Congo (DRC):
It is while I was in Congo that I started to see how bad it is to be out of my country, it was even worse when I lost my Mum at a tender age, in a foreign country and at a time when I needed her most. That was part of my life, and I will always remember how cruel life was to me.
When I was in Uganda, the worst part for me as a child who had a dream of a good future was that I couldn’t go to School to continue with my education. When my family showed no interest in helping me to have more education it was really saddening. I partly attribute my family’s lack of interest in helping me to study more to my mother’s death. If she had not passed way in Congo and was still alive in Uganda; she would have spoken out for me. She could have used her love and respectful status as a mother for all of us to influence them to take me to school. She could have dealt with them and fought for me.
I also had a hard time because I was a girl. I was a child who they believed that they had the right to discriminate, and they forced me to do what they thought was the right thing for them but not for me, denying me anything that was my choice and worst of all, forcing me to marry someone of their choice.
JUST BECAUSE I WAS A GIRL
In Tanzania:
Like any other teenager, I did nothing different to the other teenagers who were with their families, though I was living with strange families. By using my personality, I managed to get love from all of them as if they were my good relatives. This is where I managed to build up my confidence again.
In Kenya:
Living in Kenya was big test and it took me a long time to know where I was, what kind of people I was living with and the kind of life they lived. That is why after knowing exactly all about life in Kenya, I was shocked in a way that I don’t know how to explain. I have no way to tell anyone how big the shock was, and that is when I decided to escape from that life. The only way I could do that was to force myself to get married to a man I didn’t know very well or love enough.
Living in Nairobi was enjoyable. I was a mature person, I knew how and when I could deal with any kind of problem that was in front of me as well as who I could talk to if I needed help.
It was hard for me like everyone in my situation, but easy because I had all of my freedoms.
What was it so important for me to write this book for my grandchildren?
I wanted my grandchildren to know who I am and where I come from and to have something that they can talk about, concerning their grandmother, to their generation and future ones.
How challenging was it to recall some of the more difficult parts of my life?
From the difficulties I passed through in some parts of my life, I was determined to fight for myself by educating myself enough to be able to know why all of that happened to me.
I managed to put myself on the right path. I had to fight for my people and I just wanted to be a good person who could be a good example to many in different areas, especially to those who think that a girl child, just because she is a girl, must have to depend on the directions of others (her elders, especially brothers and fathers) as it is still is believed now in many cases. This is very wrong and is offensive to girls.
I challenged them all and today I get many opportunities to meet people from high positions, high profiles and I get invited to talk to those who know and share the same views that girls have their rights, their choices and that their voices must be heard and respected.
I am a writer now! To me, this is a big challenge to those who thought that because I missed higher education, I would be nobody. I demystified this notion!
What is there to learn from this book?
My Mother’s Dreams will teach its readers that patience and hope are very important in life. Readers will learn that they have to hold on and fight for whatever will come their way, trying to discourage them from their dreams.
Readers will learn how to be good and help others when they can, those who they know and those who they don’t know. It is good to help others because that good you do, will never die.
But most of all, My Mother’s Dreams will teach its readers that discrimination against girls just because they are girls is very wrong. Readers will learn that a woman can achieve anything.
As someone who missed High School Education what can I tell those who go on and have it?
First of all, I always encourage people to get High School Education as much as possible and hold it tight and know how lucky they are. They must do all that is possible to use their education properly and carefully. Work hard so that they can benefit from it for themselves, for the people around them and for the whole world in general.
What is next for me?
The aim I have is to use my remaining time on earth to teach young people that confidence is the key to success and a good life. Having hope and determination and believing in themselves is very key in succeeding; even if they come across hard times or obstacles along the way, they must be aware that they will need patience and hope for tomorrow.
I am determined to fight for women’s rights in all possible ways that I can.
I am also dedicated to writing books and to being happy with life.