Thank you for sharing this powerful story with us. Could you tell us about what inspired you to write it? My story is called “Suffering.” My father’s name is Shika Demzungu and my mother’s name is Jeanne Kiza. I chose to tell this story so that I can teach people, through my life history, that in this world many fathers and even mothers leave their families in different situations. They should take care of their families. I also want to show how a person can do something to change their lives even if they think they don’t have the means. What messages do you hope your readers will take away from your story? The message I want my readers to take is that when you leave your family alone without care they will suffer. I want people to know they shouldn’t give up because in life it’s either up or down and God is always there no matter the situation or circumstances. What, from your perspective, is the point of storytelling? Why do we tell stories, what do they do for us, and what purpose do they serve? Stories are shared to teach us and guide us toward the right path. I used my story to narrate the difficult circumstances I’ve encountered and to inspire the people around me with how I’ve navigated those situations. Did your story change over the course of your participation in the storytelling workshops? How? I was advised to edit some points in my story but the core of my story never changed. The process of how my story evolved and the guidance I received was inspiring and I’m happy with the final result. My story evolved through the editorial process and the clarification of various points in the narrative. How does your story offer an alternative path, point of view, or way forward? How does it speak to the possibility of an otherwise? My story offers an alternative path because it guides people towards taking their own responsibility whatever their situation. In my culture they always say that if you forget yourself you’ll stink and that’s the advice I would like my readers to learn.
Personal Narrative
Georgia Marshall, peer reviewer
Georgia Marshall is a sophomore in high school. She lives in Massachusetts and has always loved reading and writing. From a young age, she used the written word as an outlet for her emotions, and the most vital way to express herself. She has had multiple poetry, essay, and short story publications in literary journals including Half and One and Stone Soup. She is also an assistant editor for her school newspaper and interns for the local newspaper in her town, as well as Girls’ Life Magazine. When she’s not in school or writing, she sings in an all-female acapella group and a treble choir. Georgia believes that words and storytelling have the power to transform lives and connect people across countries, generations, and entire worlds. Acting as a peer reviewer for the Sociality of the Story Refugee program has been an incredible experience for Georgia, instilling in her a stronger sense of the power of storytelling and a deepened passion for writing. Being able to connect with so many young people in entirely different situations and life circumstances through their writing was a powerful reminder of the mysterious power words have over people. Working with Charles Shika Safina on his incredible and inspiring story was Georgia’s favorite part of the experience. She is honored to have played even a small part in his storytelling journey.
Interview with Feza
My story is about my life with my best friend and how she became such a person of worth in my life. It is a true story. It is not imagined. In my story, I talk about my friend who gave me sadness. I trusted her and she showed me hurt I didn’t deserve. This taught me about people. I hope my readers learn that trusting people isn’t always good enough. I hope to help all refugees to learn through me and change their lives through what happened in my story. Thank you for reading my story.
