Carl Wilkens
Director
World Outside My Shoes
Portland, OR USA
“There're so many things that we can do in our lives, and we miss so much of them because we're afraid to trust, we're afraid to take risks.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationCarl Wilkens
Milestones
My road in life has been direct.
Was the only American to stay in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide; delivered water, food, supplies to people in need.
Had the opportunity to volunteer in Africa while he was in college; went to South Africa for a year.
He started building schools, operating health centers all over the continent.
He had been in Rwanda for four years when the genocide began; wouldn't have been able to leave his friends and just say, "I'll pray for you."
Had to stay inside his house at all times for three weeks; "the only people on the streets were the killers."
Stresses the Rwandan people were always hospitable, generous to him; his neighbors saved his life on one of the first nights of the raids.
In 2008, started World Outside My Shoes to share his experiences in Rwanda.
Tells his students and clergy not to worry about the future: he's been a teacher, an aid worker, now a pastor, and he's open to whatever's next.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Career
Director
I speak about my experiences in the Rwanda genocide to educate and inspire people to enter the world of the "Other."
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Education
Non-Profit Organizations
