Blog Archives

061 Abdul Rahman Qani

5/31/2015

Abdul, his wife, and three children arrived in Maine a year and a half ago from Kabul, Afghanistan. Since he was in 11th grade he wanted to study medicine. After medical school in Kabul he worked as a medical translator for ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) alongside many Americans. He has recently resumed his study of medicine here in Maine, now to be a Physician's Assistant.

Music: Afghanistan's National Anthem

nms_061_-_abdul_rahman_qani_-_afghanistan_-_may_31_2015.mp3
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060 Alain Nahimana

5/24/2015

Alain Nahimana came to Maine from Burundi less than 5 years ago. He started out as an asylum seeker on general assistance and quickly got work, moving off the general assistance roles and came to know himself as a Mainer. He is now the Coordinator for the Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition and helped to organize the rally in downtown Portland last week to protest the proposed state DHHS budget cuts to General Assistance. FMI: www.wearemaine.org.

Music: Quilapayun playing "El pueblo unido jamas sera vencido." (Translated: The united community will never be defeated.)

nms_060_-_alain_nahimana_-_burundi_-_may_24_2015.mp3
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059 Olena Babak

5/17/2015

Olena was raised in Ukraine where she found her passion for art at a young age. She trained as a classical painter and also has a background in clothing design.
For the past 15 years Olena has lived in the US and keeps exploring the east coast but coming back to Maine, time and again, to paint, teach, and live. Her work is featured in galleries as well as public and private collection in the US and abroad. Her work can be viewed on her website: www.olenababak.com.

Music: Simon and Garfunkel "Sounds of Silence"

nms_059_olena_babak_-_ukraine_-_may_17_2015.mp3
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058 Gina Nzanza Kiese

5/10/2015

Gina was born into a large family in DR Congo, spent her young adult life in Belgium where she trained at L'ecole Hotelierie de Namur as a pastry chef before coming to the US four years ago. Gina arrived in Maine less than a year ago and loves Portland for the kindness, support and opportunity she has found here.
Music: Mokongo na Yesu by L'Or Mbongo

nms_058_gina_nzanza_kiese_-_drc_-_belgium_-_may_10_2015.mp3
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057 Georges Budagu

5/3/2015

Georges speaks about cultural differences and culture shock that he has witnessed through his experiences in two very different worlds: rural Congo and urban Maine. He is the author of Ladder to the Moon: A Journey from Congo to America and takes some examples from his writing.
He also calls upon each of us to consider what we might to do to lend support to refugees as well as to eliminate the causes of displacement as we approach World Refugee Day, a topic he understands well.

Music: Israel Mbonyi sings "Yankuyeho Urubanza"

nms_057_georges_budagu_-_drc_-_may_3_2015.mp3
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061 Abdul Rahman Qani

060 Alain Nahimana

059 Olena Babak

058 Gina Nzanza Kiese

057 Georges Budagu

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