We do not choose who our parents are.

我們無法選擇在哪裡出生。

But we do choose how we are going to live our lives.

我們無法選擇我們的父母是誰。

I did not choose to be born in South Sudan,

但我們可以選擇 我們要如何過我們的人生。

a country rife with conflict.

我沒選擇生在南蘇丹，

I did not choose my name --

那個國家不斷發生衝突。

Nyiriak,

我的名字也不是我選擇的——

which means "war."

妮莉亞克，

I've always rejected it

它的意思是「戰爭」。

and all the legacy it was born into.

我一直都很排斥它，

I choose to be called Mary.

以及它所連帶的遺產。

As a teacher, I've stood in front of 120 students,

我選擇被稱為瑪莉。

so this stage does not intimidate me.

身為老師，我曾經 站在 120 個學生面前，

My students come from war-torn countries.

所以這個舞台並不會讓我害怕。

They're so different from each other,

我的學生來自被戰爭肆虐的國家。

but they have one thing in common:

他們每個人都好不一樣，

they fled their homes in order to stay alive.

但他們有一個共通點：

Some of them belong to parents back home in South Sudan

他們都為了求生存 而逃離了他們的國家。

who are killing each other

當中有些人的父母 還留在南蘇丹的家鄉，

because they belong to a different tribe or they have a different belief.

他們彼此殘殺，

Others come from other African countries devastated by war.

因為他們屬於不同的部落， 或因為他們有不同的信仰。

But when they enter my class, they make friends,

其他人則是來自其他 被戰爭催殘的非洲國家。

they walk home together,

但當他們來上我的課， 他們會交朋友，

they do their homework together.

他們會一起走路回家，

There is no hatred allowed in my class.

他們會一起做功課。

My story is like that of so many other refugees.

我的班上不容許任何仇恨。

The war came when I was still a baby.

我的故事和許多 其他難民的故事很像。

And my father,

我還很小的時候戰爭就開始了。

who had been absent in most of my early childhood,

我的父親

was doing what other men were doing:

幾乎沒有參與到我的童年，

fighting for the country.

他做的就是其他男人做的事：

He had two wives and many children.

為國家而戰。

My mother was his second wife,

他有兩個妻子和許多孩子。

married to him at the age of 16.

我的母親是他的第二任妻子，

This is simply because my mother came from a poor background,

在 16 歲時嫁給他。

and she had no choice.

原因只是因為我母親 來自很貧窮的背景，

My father, on the other hand, was rich.

她沒有其他選擇。

He had many cows.

另一方面，我的父親則很富有。

Gunshots were the order of the day.

他有很多頭牛。

My community was constantly under attack.

槍響聲是家常便飯。

Communities would fight each other as they took water along the Nile.

我的社區經常受到攻擊。

But that was not all.

社區在沿著尼羅河 取水時，會彼此對抗。

Planes would drop the spinning and terrifying bombs

但不只如此。

that chopped off people's limbs.

飛機會投下旋轉、駭人的炸彈，

But the most terrifying thing for every single parent

炸斷人的手腳。

was to see their children being abducted and turned into young soldiers.

但每位父母親最害怕的

My mother dug a trench

是看著他們的孩子被綁走， 被迫變成年輕士兵。

that soon became our home.

我的母親挖了一條壕溝，

But yet, we did not feel protected.

它很快就變成了我們的家。

She had to flee in search of a safe place for us.

但，我們仍然沒有 受到保護的感覺。

I was four years old, and my younger sister was two.

她得要逃出去， 為我們尋找安全的地方。

We joined a huge mass of people,

我當時四歲，我妹妹才兩歲。

and together we walked for many agonizing days

我們加入了一大群人，

in search of a secure place.

我們一起行走數日， 那些日子非常痛苦，

But we could barely rest

為的就是要找個安全的地方。

before we were attacked again.

但幾乎每當我們要休息時，

I remember my mother was pregnant,

馬上又會再次受到攻擊。

when she would take turns to carry me and my younger sister.

我記得我母親懷孕了，

We finally made it across the Kenyan border, yes.

她還得要輪流背我和我妹妹。

But that was the longest journey that I have ever had in my whole life.

我們終於通過了肯亞邊境，是的。

My feet were raw with blisters.

但那是我一生中走過最長的旅程。

To our surprise,

我的腳紅腫發炎都是水泡。

we found other family members who had fled into the camp earlier on,

我們很驚訝的是，

where you all are today,

我們發現了其他家人， 他們是先前逃到難民營中的，

the Kakuma camp.

也就是現在各位的所在，

Now, I want you all to be very quiet just for a moment.

卡庫馬難民營。

Do you hear that?

我想請大家保持非常安靜一下子。

The sound of silence.

你們聽到了嗎？

No gunshots.

寂靜的聲音。

Peace, at last.

沒有槍響。

That was my first memory of this camp.

和平，終於到來。

When you move from a war zone

那是我對這個難民營的第一個記憶。

and come to a secure place like Kakuma,

從一個戰區搬到

you've really gone far.

像卡庫馬這樣的安全之地，

I only stayed in the camp for three years, though.

真的要走過很長的路。

My father, who had been absent in most of my early childhood,

不過，我只在難民營中待了三年。

came back into my life.

我父親，幾乎沒有參與 我童年的父親，

And he organized for me to move with my uncle

回到了我的人生中。

to our family in Nakuru.

他為我安排，讓我搬去住在我叔叔

There, I found my father's first wife,

在納庫魯的家。

my half sisters and my half brothers.

在那裡，我遇見了 我父親的第一任妻子，

I got enrolled in school.

以及我同父異母的兄弟姐妹。

I remember my first day in school -- I could sing and laugh again --

我報名上學。

and my first set of school uniforms, you bet.

我記得我在學校的第一天—— 我又能夠再次唱歌、歡笑了——

It was amazing.

當然，我也記得我的第一套學生服。

But then I came to realize

那真的很棒。

that my uncle did not find it fit for me to go to school,

但接著，我漸漸了解到，

simply because I was a girl.

我叔叔並不覺得我適合去上學，

My half brothers were his first priority.

只因為我是女孩。

He would say, "Educating a girl is a waste of time."

他最重視的是我同父異母的兄弟。

And for that reason, I missed many days of school,

他會說：「讓女孩接受教育 是在浪費時間。」

because the fees were not paid.

因為那個理由， 我錯失了很多上學日，

My father stepped in

因為我的學費沒有人繳。

and organized for me to go to boarding school.

我父親介入了，

I remember the faith that he put in me over the couple of years to come.

他為我做安排，讓我上寄宿學校。

He would say, "Education is an animal that you have to overcome.

我記得接下來幾年 他對我展現的信心。

With an education, you can survive.

他會說：「教育是 你必須要去克服的動物。

Education shall be your first husband."

受過教育，你就能生存。

And with these words came in his first big investment.

教育應該是你的第一任丈夫。」

I felt lucky!

他不只說了這些話， 他還真的做了很大的投資。

But I was missing something:

我覺得好幸運！

my mother.

但我有個缺憾：

My mother had been left behind in the camp,

我母親。

and I had not seen her since I left it.

我母親被留在難民營，

Six years without seeing her was really long.

我離開難民營之後就沒見過她。

I was alone,

沒見到她那的六年是非常漫長的。

in school,

我隻身一人，

when I heard of her death.

在學校，

I've seen many people back in South Sudan

我聽說她過世了。

lose their lives.

以前在南蘇丹時， 我曾看過非常多人

I've heard from neighbors

失去他們的性命。

lose their sons, their husbands,

我曾聽過許多鄰居

their children.

失去他們的兒子、他們的丈夫、

But I never thought that that would ever come into my life.

他們的孩子。

A month earlier, my stepmother,

但我從來沒有想過我的人生中 也會發生這種事。

who had been so good to me back in Nakuru, died first.

在那之前一個月， 我的繼母先過世了，

Then I came to realize that after giving birth to four girls,

在納庫魯時，她一直對我非常好。

my mother had finally given birth to something

接著，我漸漸了解， 生了四個女孩之後，

that could have made her be accepted into the community --

我母親終於生出了一個

a baby boy,

能讓她被社區接受的孩子——

my baby brother.

一個男孩，

But he, too,

我的寶貝弟弟。

joined the list of the dead.

但，他也一樣，

The most hurting part for me

也上了死者的名單。

was the fact that I wasn't able to attend my mother's burial.

對我來說，最心痛的

I wasn't allowed.

是我無法出席我母親的葬禮。

They said her family did not find it fit

我不被允許。

for her children, who are all girls, to attend her burial,

據說我母親的家人覺得， 她的孩子都是女兒，

simply because we were girls.

所以不適合出席她的葬禮，

They would lament to me and say,

只是因為我們是女孩。

"We are sorry, Mary, for your loss.

他們會向我表示哀悼，並說：

We are sorry that your parents never left behind any children."

「瑪莉，對你的損失， 我們感到遺憾。

And I would wonder:

我們很遺憾你的父母 沒有留下任何孩子。」

What are we?

我會納悶：

Are we not children?

那我們算什麼？

In the mentality of my community,

我們不算孩子？

only the boy child counted.

我的社區的觀點就是：

And for that reason, I knew this was the end of me.

只有男孩才算孩子。

But I was the eldest girl.

基於這個理由， 我知道我就到此為止了。

I had to take care of my siblings.

但我是長女。

I had to ensure they went to school.

我得要照於我的手足。

I was 13 years old.

我得要確保她們能夠上學。

How could I have made that happen?

我當時 13 歲。

I came back to the camp to take care of my siblings.

我怎麼可能辦到？

I've never felt so stuck.

我回到難民營，去照顧我的手足。

But then, one of my aunts, Auntie Okoi,

我從未感到如此膠著。

decided to take my sisters.

但接著，我的其中 一位阿姨，歐柯依阿姨

My father sent me money from Juba for me to go back to school.

決定接收我的妹妹們。

Boarding school was heaven, but it was also so hard.

我父親從朱巴寄錢給我， 讓我回去上學。

I remember during the visiting days when parents would come to school,

寄宿學校簡直是天堂， 但真的很辛苦。

and my father would miss.

我記得在家長參觀日時，

But when he did come,

我爸爸不會出現。

he repeated the same faith in me.

但當他真的來了，

This time he would say,

他重複述說他對我的信心。

"Mary, you cannot go astray,

這次，他說：

because you are the future of your siblings."

「瑪莉，你不能走上歧途，

But then, in 2012,

因為你是你手足的未來。」

life took away the only thing that I was clinging on.

但，接著，在 2012 年，

My father died.

命運帶走了我唯一的依靠。

My grades in school started to collapse,

我父親過世了。

and when I sat for my final high school exams in 2015,

我在學校的成績開始崩壞，

I was devastated to receive a C grade.

2015 年我參加高中的期末考，

OK, I keep telling students in my class,

得到「丙」使我心碎。

"It's not about the A's; it's about doing your best."

我不斷告訴我班上的學生：

That was not my best.

「重要的不是要拿甲， 重要的是盡你的全力。」

I was determined.

那不是我的全力。

I wanted to go back and try again.

我下定決定。

But my parents were gone.

我想要回去再試一次。

I had no one to take care of me,

但我的父母都不在了。

and I had no one to pay that fee.

沒有人照顧我，

I felt so hopeless.

沒有人能幫我付學費。

But then, one of my best friends,

我感到好無助。

a beautiful Kenyan lady, Esther Kaecha,

但，接著，我最好的朋友之一，

called me during this devastating moment,

一位美麗的肯亞女士， 艾瑟爾卡雷恰，

and she was like, "Mary, you have a strong will.

在我一蹶不振的時候打電話給我，

And I have a plan, and it's going to work."

她說：「瑪莉，你有很堅強的意志。

OK, when you're in those devastating moments, you accept anything, right?

而我有個計畫，它會成功的。」

So the plan was, she organized some travel money

在你已經一蹶不振的時候， 你什麼都會接受，對吧？

for us to travel to Anester Victory Girls High School.

所以，那個計畫就是， 她會弄到一些旅費，

I remember that day so well.

讓我們能前往安納斯特 勝利女子高中。

It was raining when we entered the principal's office.

我對那天的記憶好清楚。

We were shaking like two chickens that had been rained on,

我們進到校長的辦公室時， 外面還在下雨。

and we looked at him.

我們像淋濕的小雞一樣地發抖，

He was asking, "What do you want?"

我們看著他。

And we looked at him with the cat face.

他問：「你們要什麼？」

"We just want to go back to school."

我們用純真的小貓表情看著他：

Well, believe it or not, he not only paid our school fees

「我們只想回來上學。」

but also our uniform and pocket money for food.

信不信由你，他不只 付了我們的學費，

Clap for him.

還幫我們買制服， 給我們買食物的零用錢。

(Applause)

請為他拍拍手。

When I finished my high school career,

（掌聲）

I became the head girl.

我高中畢業時

And when I sat for the KCSE for a second time,

拔得頭籌。

I was able to receive a B minus. Clap.

當我第二次參加肯亞 中學教育認證考試時，

(Applause)

我得到了乙下，請拍手。

Thank you.

（掌聲）

So I really want to say thank you to Anester Victory, Mr. Gatimu

謝謝。

and the whole Anester fraternity for giving me that chance.

我真的很感謝安納斯特 勝利中學，葛提慕先生，

From time to time,

還有所有的安納斯特的 朋友們，給我這個機會。

members of my family will insist that my sister and I should get married

有時，

so that somebody will take care of us.

我的家人會堅持 我和我妹妹應該要嫁人，

They will say,

這樣才有人照顧我們。

"We have a man for you."

他們會說：

I really hate the fact that people took us as property rather than children.

「我們為你找了個男人。」

Sometimes they will jokingly say,

我真的很討厭別人把我們 當資產看待，而不是孩子。

"You are going to lose your market value

有時，他們會開玩笑說：

the more educated you become."

「你受到越多教育，

But the truth is,

你的市場價值就會越低。」

an educated woman is feared in my community.

但，事實是，

But I told them, this is not what I want.

我的社區很害怕受教育的女性。

I don't want to get kids at 16 like my mother did.

但我告訴他們，這不是我想要的。

This is not my life.

我不想要和我母親一樣 在 16 歲時就生小孩。

Even though my sisters and I are suffering,

那不是我的人生。

there's no way we are heading in that direction.

雖然我的妹妹和我吃了很多苦，

I refuse to repeat history.

但我們不可能往那條路走。

Educating a girl will create equal and stable societies.

我拒絕重覆歷史。

And educated refugees will be the hope

提供教育給女孩， 會創造出平等和穩定的社會。

of rebuilding their countries someday.

受教育的難民有一天會成為

Girls and women have a part to play in this

重建他們國家的希望。

just as much as men.

在這件事上，女孩和女人 也有要扮演的角色，

Well, we have men in my family that encourage me to move on:

就和男人一樣。

my half brothers and also my half sisters.

在我的家庭中， 有男人會鼓勵我要走下去：

When I finished my high school career,

我同父異母的兄弟和姐妹們。

I moved my sisters to Nairobi, where they live with my stepsister.

在我完成高中學業時，

They live 17 people in a house.

我將我的妹妹們搬到奈洛比， 和我繼母的女兒同住。

But don't pity us.

房子裡住了 17 個人。

The most important thing is that they all get a decent education.

但不用憐憫我們。

The winners of today

最重要的是，她們 都得到很好的教育。

are the losers of yesterday,

今日的贏家，

but who never gave up.

是昨日的輸家，

And that is who we are,

只是他們從不放棄。

my sisters and I.

那就是我們，

And I'm so proud of that.

我和我的妹妹們。

My biggest investment in life --

我感到非常驕傲。

(Applause)

我人生中最大的投資——

is the education of my sisters.

（掌聲）

Education creates an equal and fair chance for everyone to make it.

就是我妹妹們的教育。

I personally believe education is not all about the syllabus.

教育能創造出平等、 公平的機會，讓人人都能成功。

It's about friendship.

我個人相信，教育的重點 不只是教學大綱，

It's about discovering our talents.

還有友情，

It's about discovering our destiny.

還有發現我們的才華，

I will, for example, not forget the joy that I had

還有發現我們的命運。

when I first had singing lessons in school,