Education has been the key to finding refuge in Kansas City for Engoma Fataki.
Fataki’s family fled a civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo when he was an infant. Along with his parents and eight siblings, he lived in refugee camps in four African nations.
“My entire childhood I spent in refugee camps,” Fataki said. “My background is full of trauma… Those things still haunt me to this day.”
Fataki’s father, Fataki Mutambala, now is a preacher who leads a congregation of more than 100 African refugees in the city’s historic northeast section.
Engoma, meanwhile, has leaned hard into furthering his education. He now serves as the student body president at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph. Ultimately, he plans to go into international law.
“I can’t make all the change,” he said. “But the little difference that I can make will impact a lot of lives.”
See more in this week’s video installment of “Finding Refuge in KC.”
Coming to KCPT
Follow “Finding Refuge in KC” to learn much more about five Americans who got their starts as refugees. Look for weekly video episodes on Flatland beginning Nov. 15. Our complete documentary will air Dec. 20. “Finding Refuge in KC” is a project of KCPT and Gusewelle Films. Producer/Director: Jennie Gusewelle; Videographer/Editor: Dave Burkhardt.
Sponsored by:
Baldwin & Vernon
Pella and Jack Fingersh
Jamie and Bush Helzberg
The Herman Family Foundation
Linda Lighton and Lynn Adkins
Seyferth Family Fund
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