Madeleine and her young daughter, Odette, had made a home in the Democratic Republic of Congo when their lives were changed forever. In the middle of what seemed to be a regular day, while Odette was at school, the sudden outbreak of violence in their village caused Madeline and Odette to become separated. Without knowledge of the other’s whereabouts, they both feared the worst.
With the help of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Madeleine relocated to the capital of the Central African Republic, Bangui, a place she called home for 11 years before finally arriving in the United States in December 2001. Meanwhile, Odette was taken in and protected from the conflict by another Congolese family who traveled with her to Chad before settling in Cameroon.
Once in Cameroon, the family was able to track down Odette’s mother, and after locating her in the U.S., the family was able to notify Madeleine that her daughter was alive and well under their care. Odette herself was overwhelmed by the news and did not believe her mother was alive until they were able to communicate.
In 2014, with the help of the IRC in Atlanta, Madeleine filed for Odette to join her in Atlanta. Once finally approved, Odette arrived in the U.S. on April 14, 2016, where she was welcomed by her mother, reunited at last. As Odette explained, “I was scared before but now I am not. Now I am happy.” Madeleine and Odette are making up for lost time as they nurture a relationship once thought lost, and they continue to work with the IRC to make a safe home for themselves here in Georgia.
To learn more about the work of the IRC in Atlanta and for information on how you can get involved with the IRC as a donor or volunteer, please contact Justin Howell, Development Manager, at 678 636 8929.
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