Speak to Me Rutendo Musharu ‘23 (Zimbabwe

Rutendo Musharu Editors Note: Rutendo’s powerful voice cries out for peace and justice inviting those who are seen as enemy to listen heartfully and speak truthfully and build new relationships that will give break down walls of hate and birth hope for peace and justice.

I grew up next to you but I never saw you. I only saw your hatred, when you burned me alive, And your disgust, when you spit on me. They told me that you are not a friend, And they told you that I am not to be trusted. It planted a seed of fear in my heart, And its vine spread across my conscience. It rooted itself in the violence I saw and heard, And made me believe that you are my enemy.

I grew up next to you but I never heard you. I only heard your insults to my people, And your chant against my pride. You gave me pain too intense to disregard, And planted fear too deep to uproot, But you never once told me why.

Speak to me! I want to see you and I want to hear you I want you to see me and hear me. Let us uncover the secrets of our past. Let us listen to the sacred stories that we had buried, And uncover the truth of our divide. Speak to me and I will listen, Listen to me and I will speak. Together we can break down the wall and plant a new seed of hope and revival.

Rutendo Musharu is a current student at UWC USA who was born and raised in Zimbabwe. She is mainly acknowledged for her work in mental health awareness for youth in Zimbabwe. In early 2021 she co-founded Youth For Mental Health Zimbabwe, a student-led organization that acts as a support group for Zimbabwean youth. Rutendo is also very passionate about community building as evidenced by her frequent leadership and participation in women empowerment activities in her community, particularly campaigns for equal access to education for girls in lower income areas.