Artist, disabilities activist and internationally-known Rwandan speaker Frederick Ndabaramiye spoke to a full house at CMC in Breckenridge Thursday night during a presentation of a powerful short documentary, “I am ABLE,” about his life. After witnessing the Rwandan genocide as a young boy, Ndabaramiye was on a bus four years later when Interahamwe rebels ambushed it and demanded that he kill all his fellow passengers. He refused, and the rebels cut off his hands after killing the rest of the passengers in front of him. In a coma for six months after the attack, Ndabaramiye relearned basic life skills, taught himself to paint, and overcame despair and anger to come to a place of hope and forgiveness towards his attackers. He also co-founded the I am Able disabled cycling team, which rides through rural African villages to spread encouragement and hope to others with disabilities. After the event, Ndabaramiye dispensed autographs, hugs, and smiles to audience members who purchased his paintings and books to support I am Able. After giving the speaker a huge hug and asked what she thought about Ndabaramiye’s story and message of forgiveness and hope, eight-year-old Sienna Sussman said: “He’s pretty inspiring.”
