BOOKS CAN BECOME A SANCTUARY

BOOKS CAN BECOME A SANCTUARY

Today, we bring you a story about books — but also about belonging, memory, and what it means to feel seen. Across the United States, as immigration continues to shape political debate and family life, children’s books are becoming something more than stories on a shelf. For many immigrant and refugee children, they are becoming places of recognition, healing, and even refuge. In Portland, Maine, one organization has made that mission its work: I’m Your Neighbor Books, founded by children’s literacy advocate Kirsten Cappy. In an interview with Amjambo Africa, Cappy shares how stories can help children navigate fear, separation, identity, and hope — while also inviting communities across America to rethink what it means to welcome newcomers.

The Son of the Congo Story

Welcome to Amjambo Time, the podcast that brings you stories of resilience, identity, leadership and the African experience across the world. I am your host, Eloge Willy Kaneza. Today, we travel through the extraordinary life journey of Athanase Kadita Tshibaka — from a childhood marked by poverty and uncertainty in the Democratic Republic of Congo to an international career in global banking shaped by faith, perseverance and purpose. In his memoir, Son of the Congo, Tshibaka reflects on survival, education, imprisonment, ethical leadership and the responsibility of Africans in the diaspora to remain connected to their roots. Stay with us as we explore a story guided, as he says, “by God’s grace.” You’ve been listening to Amjambo Time with Eloge Willy Kaneza.Today’s episode featured the inspiring journey of Athanase Kadita Tshibaka, author of Son of the Congo — a story of hardship transformed into hope, and of success grounded in faith and service to others. As Tshibaka reminds us, life is not meant to be lived for ourselves alone, but in a way that uplifts others and honors where we come from. Thank you for listening. Please share this episode with your family, friends and communities, and continue following Amjambo Africa for more voices and stories from Africa and its diaspora.

From Memory to Meaning- KWIBUKA 32

Hello and welcome to Amjambo Time, I’m Éloge Willy Kaneza.Today, we take you to Bates College, where memory, healing, and intergenerational dialogue came together during the commemoration of the 32nd anniversary of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. In this episode, we bring you voices from across generations—students, scholars, and survivors—each reflecting on what it means to remember, and why that responsibility continues today.Alexandre E. Dauge-Roth, a leading scholar of the genocide, reflects on memory, silence, and the responsibility of education. Benjamin Ndamukunda shares how commemoration shapes his generation’s understanding of identity and resilience. Solomon Kayobotsi offers a powerful reflection on memory as a reclaiming of truth. James L. Reese speaks about the role of universities in fostering dialogue, justice, and responsibility. And Landry Kwizera reminds us that behind the numbers are real lives, memories, and a responsibility to never forget.You’ve been listening to Amjambo Africa. From Bates College, the message is clear: memory is not only about the past—it is a responsibility for the future. I’m Éloge Willy Kaneza. Thank you for listening.

Turning stories into safe harbors for young

Today, we’re talking about the power of storytelling — and how books can build bridges, strengthen identity, and create a sense of belonging, especially for immigrant families. My guest today is Kirsten Cappy, Executive Director and co-founder of I’m Your Neighbor Books, a Maine-based nonprofit working across the United States to foster inclusive classrooms and communities through children’s literature.In this episode, you’ll hear how stories can become spaces of connection, tools for learning, and even safe havens for children and families navigating new cultures and new lives. Thank you for listening to Amjambo Time, a podcast produced by Amjambo Africa. Today’s conversation with Kirsten Cappy reminds us that stories are more than words on a page — they are bridges between people, cultures, and generations. Stories bring us together, help us understand one another, and remind us of our shared humanity. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it, subscribe, and continue supporting independent journalism that reflects and uplifts our communities.

MOXIE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Hello and welcome to Amjambo Time, the podcast where we explore stories, ideas, and conversations shaping our communities. I’m your host, Eloge Willy Kaneza. Today’s episode focuses on an important initiative in Maine’s education landscape: MOXIE Public Schools, a new public charter school preparing to open its doors in Portland in 2026. At a time when many immigrant and refugee families are navigating uncertainty — from immigration enforcement to long asylum backlogs and housing instability — MOXIE aims to become more than a school. Its founders envision a learning community built on dignity, participation, and trust. Seats will initially be limited in grades 6 and 9, with the first student offers expected in April 2026, following a public lottery scheduled for April 1. Families are encouraged to submit an interest form early, in a process that MOXIE describes as relational rather than transactional. But beyond enrollment timelines, the bigger question remains: what does a truly human-centered school look like for students whose lives have been shaped by migration, displacement, and uncertainty? To explore that question, I spoke with Virgel Hammonds, one of MOXIE’s founding leaders, and Robert Karl, a historian and professor at Minerva University who has spent years studying migration, trauma, and asylum processes. Our conversation explores language access, belonging in schools, trauma-informed education, and how communities can rebuild trust between families and institutions. Here is our conversation. You’ve been listening to Amjambo Time, hosted by Eloge Willy Kaneza. My guests today were Virgel Hammonds, founding leader of MOXIE Public Schools, and Robert Karl, historian and professor at Minerva University. We discussed the challenges immigrant and refugee families face in education systems — and how new models like MOXIE are trying to create schools where students feel seen, heard, and supported. If you’d like to learn more about MOXIE Public Schools or submit an interest form for enrollment, you can find more information through their official channels. Thank you for listening, and until next time, this is Amjambo Time — where stories, ideas,  and community meet.