Blog and Social Media Manager Caroline Anderson interviewed Wanjiru about how her work and how it contributes to peacebuilding. 

What inspired you to change your career?  How did you make the decision to do so?

The problem presented itself to me.  When I met with African refugees and immigrants in State College I noticed that some Rwandese people who had been resettled in the US were adjusting badly.  They had not lived in urban areas of Africa, and the United States was very different from their homes.  I felt that they needed help in adjusting to the United States, and that I could help them.  My graduate work was in multicultural education, which sensitized me to valuing difference and allowing differences to exist so that we can all learn from one another.  From this sensitivity I was in a much better position to educate immigrants and felt compelled to help them adjust to their new home while retaining their identity.  My background in mental health also helped.  These refugees had had their emotions injured from devastating wars, family loss, and separation, so learning how to deal with these traumas was also a part of adjusting. Continue at reading at PeacexPeace.