Timeline
1933
The Belgians, who was colonizing Rwanda, organized a census that demands every person be issued an identity card that assigns them an ethnicity as either Tutsi, Hutu, or Twa.
1948
On December 9th a resolution is passed by the United Nations that defines genocide and declares it a crime under international law.
January 1, 1963
1963
Rose Mapendo is born in Mulenge, Democratic Republic of Congo
January 1, 1963
April 9, 1994
The Massacre at Gikondo occurs in Kigali, Rwanda. Hundreds of ethnic Tutsis are targeted and killed by Hutu majority in the Pallottine Missionary Catholic Church. The clear targeting of Tutsi people is the first sign that genocide is starting.
April 9, 1994
April 9, 1994
Rose moves to Mbuji-Mayi so her children can attend school while her husband starts his career as a butcher
April 9, 1994
April 16, 1994
The Nyarubuye Roman Catholic Church Massacre occurs in Rwanda, killing thousands of Tutsis.
April 16, 1994
April 18, 1994
The Kibuye Massacres occur in Rwanda. 12,000 Tutsi are killed at the Gatwaro Stadium in Gitesi and another 50,000 are killed in Bisesero. e
April 18, 1994
250,000+ Tutsi people flee to Tanzania for safety.
July 1, 1994
2 million Hutus flee into neighboring countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (then known as Zaire) to avoid Tutsi retribution.
July 1, 1994
January 1, 1996
The First Congo War begins.
January 1, 1996
January 1, 1998
The Second Congo War, known as the African World War, begins. Over a million Tutsi people are slaughtered.
January 1, 1998
August 1, 1998
Police officers show up at Rose’s house in search of her husband. Rose and her family flee to the eastern region for safety.
August 1, 1998
September 23, 1998
The Congo military invades the Mapendo household; Rose, her husband, and 7 of their 8 children are captured and taken to a prison camp.
September 23, 1998
1998 – 2000
Rose’s family endures 16 months in the death camp. Rose’s husband is executed within the first 2 weeks. In order to save her son from being killed, Rose is forced to trade her 17-year-old daughter as a sex slave. Rose gives birth to twins and names them after the commanders of the camp in hopes of saving her family. After months of being starved, tortured, and systematically beaten because of their ethnicity, Rose and her family are transferred to a protection center run by the Red Cross.
July 1, 2000
Rose and her family arrive in the United States, residing in Phoenix, Arizona.
July 1, 2000
2003
The proxy war waged between Rwanda and the Kinshasa. The Congo government is headed by Congolese Tutsi General Laurent Nkunda who aims to destroy Hutu rebels involved in the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) until 2008.
2007
Rose is named ‘America’s Greatest Hometown Hero’ in the 5th Annual Volvo for Life Awards.
January 1, 2008
2008
Governments from Rwanda and the DRC join to combat FDLR
January 1, 2008
October 1, 2008
Rose Mapendo nominated by Susan Sarandon, named a CNN Hero.
October 1, 2008
June 1, 2008
Ten years after being imprisoned with her family in the DRC, Rose speaks at the White House in honor of World Refugee Day.
June 1, 2008
EARLY 2010
Rose opens the first Women’s Center in DRC, offering local women the resources needed to learn, grow and survive.
June 1, 2010
June
Pushing the Elephant, a documentary following Rose’s story premieres in New York City.
June 1, 2010
2012
Rose founds the Rose Mapendo Foundation.
2013
The Idaho Public Television aired a special educational module entitled ‘Refugee Advocate Rose Mapendo’
2014
Rose receives the Unanima International Women of Courage Award
2015
Together with the Rose Mapendo Foundation, we can continue to rebuild the lives of those devastated by conflict in eastern Africa. Donate today.
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We depend on our partners to accomplish the monumental goals of safety, healing, and survival for the women and families displaced by conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Join us in recognizing these partners and the crucial services they provide.
