Hannah Githuku and family arrived in Canada in August 2009.

I was among the middle class Kenyans with a good job working for the United Nations and hence was economically stable. With my two teenage children we lived in the up-market areas of the capital city and my children went to the best schools in Nairobi. We were also lucky to have a great medical cover by the United Nations.

Hannah and family enjoying dinner at Brottier House with Father Jerome (first from right) and Father Nicholas (third from right)

Problems arose when I, like my parents and grandparents started opposing the ills of the government and bringing to light many of the inhuman acts that some powerful government personalities were doing towards some Kenyans. Some of these ills are executions of human rights activists and imprisonment. This didn’t sit well with the government and a few powerful officers approached me and told me to stop the activism or would regret soon. This was followed by breakings into my residence and threatening phone calls. It went on for long and I decided to run away for the sake of myself and my teenage children. That’s how I came to Canada as a refugee in August 2009 leaving all our comforts and only leaving with a few clothes.

I stayed in Brottier house from August until end of November 2009. Brottier House set up, at the leadership of Father Alex Osei, made us feel accepted and at home. He personally accompanied us to seek legal immigrant support and gave us counseling which helped us overcome the stress and trauma we had suffered back home. He helped us get schools assessment for the children and eventually they were accepted in a nearby school by the time schools opened in September (no time was wasted thanks to Father Alex). The name of the school is SATEC @ William Porter,

When were ready to move to our own apartment Father Alex and Father Obinna mobilized support from Niel McNeil School and other places and we were able to get what we needed to start up. We are Christians and my children and I have all gone through Catholic schools back home. We were able to find a church where we worship. While at Brottier House, I started volunteer work with COSTI Scarborough, where I worked with Internationally Trained workers program as an Administrative Assistant. While at COSTI I managed to get a scholarship with a private college to do Community Social Service diploma, which I shall start in April.

It is with great regret that I had to leave my country and became a refugee. For 18 years I worked with United Nations helping refugees from Somalia, only to become a refugee myself.