1. What point of view is driving this story? What central point/need/desire for your       community member must be conveyed?

 

She really wanted to concentrate on the war. Prior to the war, her life was good and she repeatedly said how enjoyable her life was before the war broke out. She talked extensively about her working for an electric company and having a nice life with her family in a nice house. Once the war broke out, she said her life went from comfortable to literally having to beg for food. We believe this is important because it will give another perspective of the refugee situation, emphasizing that refugees have normal, happy lives before having to deal with trauma and violence.  Another point of view we wanted to convey was her strength in her faith throughout all the situations in her life. She talked about an experience on her worst day of her life, and how God was present that day. We also want to put emphasis on her children. Cecelia talked extensively about how proud of her children she is, having graduated college and working after having to move to the United States in a separated family.

 

2. What dramatic question is organizing this narrative?  

 

What was the most important or meaningful experience of your life. Once we asked her this question, she told us the whole story her life in Liberia. One day, she saw her neighbors get killed in her front yard. She speaks about how her neighbors were brutally killed on that day. She goes into detail about how she felt on that day and how it changed her life forever. She also speaks of her presence of God that day and how she asked if he was still there.

 

3. What 5 central moments/ themes must be included?

 

Moment with God it gave her faith to keep going. She emphasized that children and family were important, before the war they were happy and doing well she said that they were her proudest accomplishment. Before the war, her family was doing really well she had a job and her children were in private school. Advice towards anyone going through violence, war is not a good thing, and you have to have faith in God to get through it. Appreciation for life and peace which she was able to find by coming to the United States.  

 

4. In what order? How will you open, transition, close? Etc.

 

She told us about how she had a normal life before the war, she was working a job and her family was happy and thriving. She then talked how much life changed after the war started, she was not able to go to work anymore, everything was closed, food was scarce, and her family was forced to separate. Her moment with God was the most important thing that she talked about because she said that before that moment she was close to giving up, she was hungry and tired and feared what would happen next. Close with how she is doing okay in the US, it was a hard transition but now that she is here with her family she knows that she is safe and things will start to get better.