May 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BUKAVU, AN EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT TO THE CONGO’S INNER TURMOIL  

FORT LAUDERDALE, MAY 2005: 

Bukavu, the story of a young girl who travels to the city of Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of Congo to work with displaced persons is based on the author’s real life drama. When Paka arrives in Bukavu with her father, she finds herself isolated from and rejected by the international community. Some members of this community cut her off with their racist comments and cold or superior behaviors. This draws Paka even closer to the Congolese people and their town, Bukavu. The people warmly take her in and include her in their daily lives. 

Paka learns about their politics and has firsthand experience in seeing the corruption of their government officials. She sees the conspiracy theories that officials use to put blame on each other. Unable to rely on the government, Paka realizes she needs to rely on the international community to continue her humanitarian work for the benefit of displaced persons. 

Paka becomes further disgusted with the international community when she learns of their immoral behavior in the town. This infuriates her, but she learns from the Congolese people that there are some among the community who do care about them and are not cold or superior like the others. 

Bukavu is a story for any student of international relations or political science.  Paka’s account shares her education of the actual life experience that the Congolese people offer to her.  She, in turn, offers it back to the world as a brilliant eyewitness. Bukavu is the story of the struggle between East and West and how this heroic young woman seeks to understand the Western world, while holding onto the Eastern world inside of her.  

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