Brewster Ladies' Library Voices of Migrants: The Ntumba Family

The Ntumbas are Tony, Joelle, and Pearl, an asylum-seeking family who came to the U.S. from the Democratic Republic of Congo. For almost a decade, the Refugee Support Team of Nauset Interfaith has had the pleasure of knowing and supporting this delightful family who call the Cape home. Tony was a photojournalist for the U.N. whose work exposed corruption, which led to his abduction and torture. A U.N. visa helped him flee to the U.S. about ten years ago. It was several years before his wife, Joelle, was able to follow and leave behind the danger there. Finally, friends helped arrange for their daughter, Pearl (now 10), to come. They have been waiting all this time for their asylum applications to be heard. 

Tony and Joelle have worked hard at various jobs to make ends meet, and have been helped by the Refugee Support Team and other friends. Pearl is flourishing as a student at St. John Paul school. In many ways, the Ntumbas are representative of those who have had to flee terrible conditions and who strive to make a home in America. Tony will share his photographs and both Tony and Joelle will speak. Their story is worth listening to.

This is the second segment of a three-part series, "Voices of Migrants," sponsored by the Refugee Support Team of Nauset Interfaith.