Rose Mapendo

When ethnic violence engulfed the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the late 1990s, Rose Mapendo was imprisoned with her family. This harrowing period in her life included the nighttime arrest of her entire family by government agents, the execution of her husband, and the birth of their twin sons in prison. In these extreme conditions, she faced grim negotiations with prison guards to save the lives of her children. Mapendo emerged from this traumatic experience advocating for forgiveness and reconciliation, addressing the deep ethnic rifts among Tutsis, Hutus, and other Congolese groups.

Today, Mapendo is a global activist for peace and reconciliation, and a motivational speaker who engages various audiences including corporate, government, and community groups. Her work has had a significant impact, encouraging world and local leaders to reconsider their approaches to justice and conflict resolution. In 2009, she was honored by the White House and named Humanitarian of the Year by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

In 2012, she established the Rose Mapendo Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on empowering widows, women, and children globally. The foundation operates a peace center in Kigali that provides support and hope to widows and women in the region. Her compelling life story and message of transformation and peace have been captured in the documentary "Pushing the Elephant," which premiered in New York City in June 2010. Mapendo's presentations are notably powerful and emotionally intense, often receiving standing ovations and inspiring activism among her listeners. She has notably impacted audiences at Nassau Community College and Principia College, where her talks filled venues and profoundly touched many attendees.