Why I fight for the education of refugee girls (like me) | Mary Maker

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: Helen Chang

We do not choose where to be born.

我們無法選擇在哪裡出生。

We do not choose who our parents are.

我們無法選擇我們的父母是誰。

But we do choose how we are going to live our lives.

但我們可以選擇 我們要如何過我們的人生。

I did not choose to be born in South Sudan,

我沒選擇生在南蘇丹，

a country rife with conflict.

那個國家不斷發生衝突。

I did not choose my name --

我的名字也不是我選擇的——

Nyiriak,

妮莉亞克，

which means "war."

它的意思是「戰爭」。

I've always rejected it

我一直都很排斥它，

and all the legacy it was born into.

以及它所連帶的遺產。

I choose to be called Mary.

我選擇被稱為瑪莉。

As a teacher, I've stood in front of 120 students,

身為老師，我曾經 站在 120 個學生面前，

so this stage does not intimidate me.

所以這個舞台並不會讓我害怕。

My students come from war-torn countries.

我的學生來自被戰爭肆虐的國家。

They're so different from each other,

他們每個人都好不一樣，

but they have one thing in common:

但他們有一個共通點：

they fled their homes in order to stay alive.

他們都為了求生存 而逃離了他們的國家。

Some of them belong to parents back home in South Sudan

當中有些人的父母 還留在南蘇丹的家鄉，

who are killing each other

他們彼此殘殺，

because they belong to a different tribe or they have a different belief.

因為他們屬於不同的部落， 或因為他們有不同的信仰。

Others come from other African countries devastated by war.

其他人則是來自其他 被戰爭催殘的非洲國家。

But when they enter my class, they make friends,

但當他們來上我的課， 他們會交朋友，

they walk home together,

他們會一起走路回家，

they do their homework together.

他們會一起做功課。

There is no hatred allowed in my class.

我的班上不容許任何仇恨。

My story is like that of so many other refugees.

我的故事和許多 其他難民的故事很像。

The war came when I was still a baby.

我還很小的時候戰爭就開始了。

And my father,

我的父親

who had been absent in most of my early childhood,

幾乎沒有參與到我的童年，

was doing what other men were doing:

他做的就是其他男人做的事：

fighting for the country.

為國家而戰。

He had two wives and many children.

他有兩個妻子和許多孩子。

My mother was his second wife,

我的母親是他的第二任妻子，

married to him at the age of 16.

在 16 歲時嫁給他。

This is simply because my mother came from a poor background,

原因只是因為我母親 來自很貧窮的背景，

and she had no choice.

她沒有其他選擇。

My father, on the other hand, was rich.

另一方面，我的父親則很富有。

He had many cows.

他有很多頭牛。

Gunshots were the order of the day.

槍響聲是家常便飯。

My community was constantly under attack.

我的社區經常受到攻擊。

Communities would fight each other as they took water along the Nile.

社區在沿著尼羅河 取水時，會彼此對抗。

But that was not all.

但不只如此。

Planes would drop the spinning and terrifying bombs

飛機會投下旋轉、駭人的炸彈，

that chopped off people's limbs.

炸斷人的手腳。

But the most terrifying thing for every single parent

但每位父母親最害怕的

was to see their children being abducted and turned into young soldiers.

是看著他們的孩子被綁走， 被迫變成年輕士兵。

My mother dug a trench

我的母親挖了一條壕溝，

that soon became our home.

它很快就變成了我們的家。

But yet, we did not feel protected.

但，我們仍然沒有 受到保護的感覺。

She had to flee in search of a safe place for us.

她得要逃出去， 為我們尋找安全的地方。

I was four years old, and my younger sister was two.

我當時四歲，我妹妹才兩歲。

We joined a huge mass of people,

我們加入了一大群人，

and together we walked for many agonizing days

我們一起行走數日， 那些日子非常痛苦，

in search of a secure place.

為的就是要找個安全的地方。

But we could barely rest

但幾乎每當我們要休息時，

before we were attacked again.

馬上又會再次受到攻擊。

I remember my mother was pregnant,

我記得我母親懷孕了，

when she would take turns to carry me and my younger sister.

她還得要輪流背我和我妹妹。

We finally made it across the Kenyan border, yes.

我們終於通過了肯亞邊境，是的。

But that was the longest journey that I have ever had in my whole life.

但那是我一生中走過最長的旅程。

My feet were raw with blisters.

我的腳紅腫發炎都是水泡。

To our surprise,

我們很驚訝的是，

we found other family members who had fled into the camp earlier on,

我們發現了其他家人， 他們是先前逃到難民營中的，

where you all are today,

也就是現在各位的所在，

the Kakuma camp.

卡庫馬難民營。

Now, I want you all to be very quiet just for a moment.

我想請大家保持非常安靜一下子。

Do you hear that?

你們聽到了嗎？

The sound of silence.

寂靜的聲音。

No gunshots.

沒有槍響。

Peace, at last.

和平，終於到來。

That was my first memory of this camp.

那是我對這個難民營的第一個記憶。

When you move from a war zone

從一個戰區搬到

and come to a secure place like Kakuma,

像卡庫馬這樣的安全之地，

you've really gone far.

真的要走過很長的路。

I only stayed in the camp for three years, though.

不過，我只在難民營中待了三年。

My father, who had been absent in most of my early childhood,

我父親，幾乎沒有參與 我童年的父親，

came back into my life.

回到了我的人生中。

And he organized for me to move with my uncle

他為我安排，讓我搬去住在我叔叔

to our family in Nakuru.

在納庫魯的家。

There, I found my father's first wife,

在那裡，我遇見了 我父親的第一任妻子，

my half sisters and my half brothers.

以及我同父異母的兄弟姐妹。

I got enrolled in school.

我報名上學。

I remember my first day in school -- I could sing and laugh again --

我記得我在學校的第一天—— 我又能夠再次唱歌、歡笑了——

and my first set of school uniforms, you bet.

當然，我也記得我的第一套學生服。

It was amazing.

那真的很棒。

But then I came to realize

但接著，我漸漸了解到，

that my uncle did not find it fit for me to go to school,

我叔叔並不覺得我適合去上學，

simply because I was a girl.

只因為我是女孩。

My half brothers were his first priority.

他最重視的是我同父異母的兄弟。

He would say, "Educating a girl is a waste of time."

他會說：「讓女孩接受教育 是在浪費時間。」

And for that reason, I missed many days of school,

因為那個理由， 我錯失了很多上學日，

because the fees were not paid.

因為我的學費沒有人繳。

My father stepped in

我父親介入了，

and organized for me to go to boarding school.

他為我做安排，讓我上寄宿學校。

I remember the faith that he put in me over the couple of years to come.

我記得接下來幾年 他對我展現的信心。

He would say, "Education is an animal that you have to overcome.

他會說：「教育是 你必須要去克服的動物。

With an education, you can survive.

受過教育，你就能生存。

Education shall be your first husband."

教育應該是你的第一任丈夫。」

And with these words came in his first big investment.

他不只說了這些話， 他還真的做了很大的投資。

I felt lucky!

我覺得好幸運！

But I was missing something:

但我有個缺憾：

my mother.

我母親。

My mother had been left behind in the camp,

我母親被留在難民營，

and I had not seen her since I left it.

我離開難民營之後就沒見過她。

Six years without seeing her was really long.

沒見到她那的六年是非常漫長的。

I was alone,

我隻身一人，

in school,

在學校，

when I heard of her death.

我聽說她過世了。

I've seen many people back in South Sudan

以前在南蘇丹時， 我曾看過非常多人

lose their lives.

失去他們的性命。

I've heard from neighbors

我曾聽過許多鄰居

lose their sons, their husbands,

失去他們的兒子、他們的丈夫、

their children.

他們的孩子。

But I never thought that that would ever come into my life.

但我從來沒有想過我的人生中 也會發生這種事。

A month earlier, my stepmother,

在那之前一個月， 我的繼母先過世了，

who had been so good to me back in Nakuru, died first.

在納庫魯時，她一直對我非常好。

Then I came to realize that after giving birth to four girls,

接著，我漸漸了解， 生了四個女孩之後，

my mother had finally given birth to something

我母親終於生出了一個

that could have made her be accepted into the community --

能讓她被社區接受的孩子——

a baby boy,

一個男孩，

my baby brother.

我的寶貝弟弟。

But he, too,

但，他也一樣，

joined the list of the dead.

也上了死者的名單。

The most hurting part for me

對我來說，最心痛的

was the fact that I wasn't able to attend my mother's burial.

是我無法出席我母親的葬禮。

I wasn't allowed.

我不被允許。

They said her family did not find it fit

據說我母親的家人覺得， 她的孩子都是女兒，

for her children, who are all girls, to attend her burial,

所以不適合出席她的葬禮，

simply because we were girls.

只是因為我們是女孩。

They would lament to me and say,

他們會向我表示哀悼，並說：

"We are sorry, Mary, for your loss.

「瑪莉，對你的損失， 我們感到遺憾。

We are sorry that your parents never left behind any children."

我們很遺憾你的父母 沒有留下任何孩子。」

And I would wonder:

我會納悶：

What are we?

那我們算什麼？

Are we not children?

我們不算孩子？

In the mentality of my community,

我的社區的觀點就是：

only the boy child counted.

只有男孩才算孩子。

And for that reason, I knew this was the end of me.

基於這個理由， 我知道我就到此為止了。

But I was the eldest girl.

但我是長女。

I had to take care of my siblings.

我得要照於我的手足。

I had to ensure they went to school.

我得要確保她們能夠上學。

I was 13 years old.

我當時 13 歲。

How could I have made that happen?

我怎麼可能辦到？

I came back to the camp to take care of my siblings.

我回到難民營，去照顧我的手足。

I've never felt so stuck.

我從未感到如此膠著。

But then, one of my aunts, Auntie Okoi,

但接著，我的其中 一位阿姨，歐柯依阿姨

decided to take my sisters.

決定接收我的妹妹們。

My father sent me money from Juba for me to go back to school.

我父親從朱巴寄錢給我， 讓我回去上學。

Boarding school was heaven, but it was also so hard.

寄宿學校簡直是天堂， 但真的很辛苦。

I remember during the visiting days when parents would come to school,

我記得在家長參觀日時，

and my father would miss.

我爸爸不會出現。

But when he did come,

但當他真的來了，

he repeated the same faith in me.

他重複述說他對我的信心。

This time he would say,

這次，他說：

"Mary, you cannot go astray,

「瑪莉，你不能走上歧途，

because you are the future of your siblings."

因為你是你手足的未來。」

But then, in 2012,

但，接著，在 2012 年，

life took away the only thing that I was clinging on.

命運帶走了我唯一的依靠。

My father died.

我父親過世了。

My grades in school started to collapse,

我在學校的成績開始崩壞，

and when I sat for my final high school exams in 2015,

2015 年我參加高中的期末考，

I was devastated to receive a C grade.

得到「丙」使我心碎。

OK, I keep telling students in my class,

我不斷告訴我班上的學生：

"It's not about the A's; it's about doing your best."

「重要的不是要拿甲， 重要的是盡你的全力。」

That was not my best.

那不是我的全力。

I was determined.

我下定決定。

I wanted to go back and try again.

我想要回去再試一次。

But my parents were gone.

但我的父母都不在了。

I had no one to take care of me,

沒有人照顧我，

and I had no one to pay that fee.

沒有人能幫我付學費。

I felt so hopeless.

我感到好無助。

But then, one of my best friends,

但，接著，我最好的朋友之一，

a beautiful Kenyan lady, Esther Kaecha,

一位美麗的肯亞女士， 艾瑟爾卡雷恰，

called me during this devastating moment,

在我一蹶不振的時候打電話給我，

and she was like, "Mary, you have a strong will.

她說：「瑪莉，你有很堅強的意志。

And I have a plan, and it's going to work."

而我有個計畫，它會成功的。」

OK, when you're in those devastating moments, you accept anything, right?

在你已經一蹶不振的時候， 你什麼都會接受，對吧？

So the plan was, she organized some travel money

所以，那個計畫就是， 她會弄到一些旅費，

for us to travel to Anester Victory Girls High School.

讓我們能前往安納斯特 勝利女子高中。

I remember that day so well.

我對那天的記憶好清楚。

It was raining when we entered the principal's office.

我們進到校長的辦公室時， 外面還在下雨。

We were shaking like two chickens that had been rained on,

我們像淋濕的小雞一樣地發抖，

and we looked at him.

我們看著他。

He was asking, "What do you want?"

他問：「你們要什麼？」

And we looked at him with the cat face.

我們用純真的小貓表情看著他：

"We just want to go back to school."

「我們只想回來上學。」

Well, believe it or not, he not only paid our school fees

信不信由你，他不只 付了我們的學費，

but also our uniform and pocket money for food.

還幫我們買制服， 給我們買食物的零用錢。

Clap for him.

請為他拍拍手。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

When I finished my high school career,

我高中畢業時

I became the head girl.

拔得頭籌。

And when I sat for the KCSE for a second time,

當我第二次參加肯亞 中學教育認證考試時，

I was able to receive a B minus. Clap.

我得到了乙下，請拍手。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

Thank you.

謝謝。

So I really want to say thank you to Anester Victory, Mr. Gatimu

我真的很感謝安納斯特 勝利中學，葛提慕先生，

and the whole Anester fraternity for giving me that chance.

還有所有的安納斯特的 朋友們，給我這個機會。

From time to time,

有時，

members of my family will insist that my sister and I should get married

我的家人會堅持 我和我妹妹應該要嫁人，

so that somebody will take care of us.

這樣才有人照顧我們。

They will say,

他們會說：

"We have a man for you."

「我們為你找了個男人。」

I really hate the fact that people took us as property rather than children.

我真的很討厭別人把我們 當資產看待，而不是孩子。

Sometimes they will jokingly say,

有時，他們會開玩笑說：

"You are going to lose your market value

「你受到越多教育，

你的市場價值就會越低。」

the more educated you become."

But the truth is,

但，事實是，

an educated woman is feared in my community.

我的社區很害怕受教育的女性。

But I told them, this is not what I want.

但我告訴他們，這不是我想要的。

I don't want to get kids at 16 like my mother did.

我不想要和我母親一樣 在 16 歲時就生小孩。

This is not my life.

那不是我的人生。

Even though my sisters and I are suffering,

雖然我的妹妹和我吃了很多苦，

there's no way we are heading in that direction.

但我們不可能往那條路走。

I refuse to repeat history.

我拒絕重覆歷史。

Educating a girl will create equal and stable societies.

提供教育給女孩， 會創造出平等和穩定的社會。

And educated refugees will be the hope

受教育的難民有一天會成為

of rebuilding their countries someday.

重建他們國家的希望。

Girls and women have a part to play in this

在這件事上，女孩和女人 也有要扮演的角色，

just as much as men.

就和男人一樣。

Well, we have men in my family that encourage me to move on:

在我的家庭中， 有男人會鼓勵我要走下去：

my half brothers and also my half sisters.

我同父異母的兄弟和姐妹們。

When I finished my high school career,

在我完成高中學業時，

I moved my sisters to Nairobi, where they live with my stepsister.

我將我的妹妹們搬到奈洛比， 和我繼母的女兒同住。

They live 17 people in a house.

房子裡住了 17 個人。

But don't pity us.

但不用憐憫我們。

The most important thing is that they all get a decent education.

最重要的是，她們 都得到很好的教育。

The winners of today

今日的贏家，

are the losers of yesterday,

是昨日的輸家，

but who never gave up.

只是他們從不放棄。

And that is who we are,

那就是我們，

my sisters and I.

我和我的妹妹們。

And I'm so proud of that.

我感到非常驕傲。

My biggest investment in life --

我人生中最大的投資——

(Applause)

（掌聲）

is the education of my sisters.

就是我妹妹們的教育。

Education creates an equal and fair chance for everyone to make it.

教育能創造出平等、 公平的機會，讓人人都能成功。

I personally believe education is not all about the syllabus.

我個人相信，教育的重點 不只是教學大綱，

It's about friendship.

還有友情，

It's about discovering our talents.

還有發現我們的才華，

It's about discovering our destiny.

還有發現我們的命運。

I will, for example, not forget the joy that I had

比如，我就不會忘記我在學校

when I first had singing lessons in school,

第一次上到唱歌課程時的樂趣，

which is still a passion of mine.

我到現在仍然熱愛唱歌。

But I wouldn't have gotten that

但我在其他地方都不可能

anywhere else.

上到那樣的課。

As a teacher, I see my classroom as a laboratory

身為老師，我把我的教室 視為是實驗室，

that not only generates skills and knowledge

它不只會產生出技能與知識，

but also understanding and hope.

還有了解和希望。

Let's take a tree.

用樹木來比喻。

A tree may have its branches cut,

一棵樹木的分枝可能會被砍掉，

but give it water, and it will grow new branches.

但供給它水份，它就會長出新枝。

For the child of war,

對戰爭的孩子而言，

an education can turn their tears of loss into a passion for peace.

教育能將他們因為失去而流下的 眼淚，轉化為對和平的熱忱。

And for that reason, I refuse to give up on a single student in my class.

基於這個理由，我拒絕放棄 我班上的任何一個學生。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

Education heals.

教育有治癒的力量。

The school environment

學校環境能夠

gives you a focus to focus ahead.

讓你專注，把焦點放在前方。

Let's take it this way:

咱們這樣說吧：

when you're busy solving mathematical equations,

當你忙著解數學方程式，

and you are memorizing poetry,

正在背誦詩作時，

you forget the violence that you witnessed back home.

你就會忘記你在家鄉所目睹的暴力。

And that is the power of education.

那就是教育的力量。

It creates this place for peace.

它能創造出一個和平的地方。

Kakuma is teeming with learners.

卡庫馬滿滿都是學習者。

Over 85,000 students are enrolled in schools here,

這裡的學校招收 超過八萬五千名學生，

which makes up 40 percent of the refugee population.

這等同於難民人數的 40%。

It includes children who lost years of education because of the war back home.

還包括因為家鄉的戰爭 而錯失數年教育的孩子。

And I want to ask you a question:

我想要問各位一個問題：

If education is about building a generation of hope,

如果教育的目的是要 建立一個希望的世代，

why are there 120 students packed in my classroom?

為什麼我的教室中 擠滿了 120 個學生？

Why is it that only six percent of the primary school students

為什麼小學學生中只有 6%

are making it to high school,

能夠進入中學，

simply because we do not have enough places for them?

原因竟然只是因為 我們沒有足夠的空間容納他們？

And why is it that only one percent of the secondary school graduates

為什麼中等學校畢業生中只有 1%

are making it to university?

能夠進入大學？

I began by saying that I am a teacher.

我一開頭時有說到，我是位老師。

But once again, I have become a student.

但，我又再一次變成了學生。

In March, I moved to Rwanda

三月，我搬到盧安達，

on a scholarship program called "Bridge2Rwanda."

靠的是一個叫做 「通往盧安達之橋」的獎助專案。

It prepares scholars for universities.

它是在幫助學者為了大學做準備。

They are able to get a chance to compete for universities abroad.

他們才能有機會競爭， 進入國外的大學。

I am now having teachers telling me what to do,

現在有老師在告訴我該做什麼，

instead of the other way round.

而不是反過來。

People are once again investing in me.

再一次，別人投資在我身上。

So I want to ask you all to invest in young refugees.

所以，我想要請求在座所有人， 投資年輕的難民。

Think of the tree that we mentioned earlier.

想想我們先前提到的樹木。

We are the generation to plant it,

我們是種樹的世代，

so that the next generation can water it,

這樣下一代才能夠澆水，

and the one that follows will enjoy the shade.

再下一代則能夠享受在樹下乘涼。

They will reap the benefits.

他們能夠收穫益處。

And the greatest benefit of them all

而最大的益處

is an education that will last.

就是教育會一直持續下去。

Thank you.

謝謝。

(Applause)

（掌聲）