Diariata : An African Woman for Peace

Interviewed August 2, 1996, Eugene, Oregon


The Peace Team met Diariata when she was visiting Eugene to attend the Mobility International Conference. Mobility International is an organization headquartered in Eugene, Oregon and is dedicated to improving the lives of disabled people all over the world. She was invited from her home in Nice, France and took time from her Doctoral Studies to attend.For this interview she has requested that only her first name be used. Excerpts from our conversation appear below. We thank her for her inspiring words. Click here to see a video of Diariata during the interview--the English translation of her remark in French is "Accepting differences, having tolerance, and working together."

"I came to Eugene for the exchange of many leaders in the world about rights for people with disabilities. Mobility International will change my life and the lives of all the delegates. The important thing [is] to meet people with different handicaps. It's not easy to be together and to understand people with physical disabilities and mental disabilities, deaf, blind. Sometimes in many countries they are separated. But Mobility International gives the opportunity to be together. This is important. And women, men, no problem. There is no difference. Before sometimes I think some people can't do anything, like people with mental and physical disabilities. They are able to do many things. I never did recreational activities. I never did sports in my life, before 1994. I was thinking that I couldn't do anything. It changed dramatically. My hope is to represent Mobility International in Africa.

I was four years old. Children with disabilities are not loved by families. I was raised by my grandmother. I was in a room, and they gave me food. I was not allowed to go outside to play. My family didn't like to take me to school. We don't like to see children with disabilities in [African] society. When my younger sister went to school I wanted to go, too. Then I tried to go out of the house to see for myself. It was difficult because I can't walk. I was crawling like a baby. And they accepted me finally, but it was very very difficult. The school was not very far from my house but we don't have good routes. I have many many scars. It's very hot in Africa. I had no table in the class because I was not considered a student. I was only there because I wanted to go to school. I sat on the floor. It was dirty all the time. After the test I had the best grade and the director accepted me. I was nine, nine, I went to school at nine. Finally the teacher accepted me. At the first school, the children beat me. They didn't like me. I finished my fifth school and high school and university.

Now I'm preparing my doctorate in international law, peace and development. I finish in September. I have to present my book for my last degree. In Nice, France I go to the University. My hope and my goal is to return to Africa. I changed many things before I came. I don't like to live in Europe, or rich countries. It's very nice, but it is not my life. To be with my society and help them. I think women in Africa can change their life. My life is to go to Africa. I am asking many organizations to help me go as a volunteer to African countries where I can work. I have contacted many organizations and I don't know yet. If Mobility International can do it it will be very wonderful. If I can give peace through my work in the University.

The objective of my study of peace among all the students is so that they will know about the differences and accept the differences. Above all, and will work together and have a world without discrimination, racism, sexism. This is the object of my work in Nice. I will work for peace."

Back to the present page