Carl Wilkens - The Man Who Chose to Stay

Carl Wilkens risked his life to protect Rwandan children and families during the genocide when others fled.

Carl Wilkens was born on November 20, 1957, in Takoma Park, Maryland. From a young age, he cared deeply about helping others, a passion that grew into his life’s work. He became a humanitarian aid worker and later served with the Adventist Development and Relief Agency International. His work eventually took him, along with his wife and children, to Rwanda in East Africa.

For several years, life in Rwanda seemed peaceful. But on April 6, 1994, everything changed. The plane carrying Rwandan president Juvénal Habyarimana was shot down, sparking one of the worst genocides in modern history. The conflict grew out of long-standing tensions between two groups: the Hutus and the Tutsis. These divisions stretched back to the 19th century, fueled by class differences and colonial policies that had favored one group over the other. When the Hutu president was killed, extremist leaders used his death as a reason to launch mass killings of Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

The violence spread quickly. At first, it was led by members of the military and police, but soon, ordinary citizens, including neighbors, coworkers, and even church members, joined in. Entire communities turned on one another. By the end of the genocide, about one million Rwandans had been murdered in just 100 days.

As chaos erupted, foreign governments rushed to evacuate their citizens. Many missionaries, aid workers, and expatriates fled. Even United Nations peacekeepers withdrew. Carl Wilkens faced an agonizing choice: leave with his wife and children or stay behind. In the end, Carl sent his family to safety, but he chose to remain in Rwanda. He could not bring himself to abandon the people who needed help the most.

Carl was the only American who stayed in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, throughout the genocide. Each day, he ventured into streets filled with mortars and gunfire, passing through roadblocks guarded by angry, bloodstained soldiers and civilians armed with machetes. Working with his Rwandan colleagues, he brought food, water, and medicine to orphans and families trapped across the city. His efforts helped save the lives of hundreds.

One of the places he supported was the Gisimba Orphanage, which sheltered hundreds of children and adults. When Carl learned the orphanage had no clean water, he set out on a dangerous mission to fix the problem. But his help went far beyond supplies. Armed men often gathered outside, waiting to kill those inside, but Carl used his presence and his voice to prevent them from carrying out their deadly plans. His courage and compassion gave others the chance to survive.

In 2011, Carl published his book I’m Not Leaving, later followed by a documentary of the same name. His story weaves together moments of tremendous risk with fierce compassion in the midst of senseless violence.

Carl’s work did not stop when the genocide ended. For more than a decade, he has traveled the globe, sharing stories that inspire people to “enter the world of the other.” His storytelling moves beyond Rwanda’s tragic history to highlight the inspiring recovery process. Among the many lessons he shares is the belief that people do not have to be defined by what they lost or even their worst choices. Instead, he urges others to focus on what they can do next, with what remains.

Each year, Carl returns to Rwanda with students and educators to see firsthand how communities are rebuilding their country and repairing broken trust. He is also the Co-founder and Director of World Outside My Shoes, a nonprofit that uses storytelling and restorative practices to explore difficult topics such as polarization, harmful conflict, and belonging.

Carl Wilkens was once an unsung hero, but his story has since inspired many. In 2015 and 2017, Kansas educators Lindsay Dowell and Alice Bertels, both Lowell Milken Center Fellows, introduced students to his work. At Washburn Rural Middle School in Topeka, Kansas, students Megan Christensen and Meredith Kucera created a documentary about Carl’s actions. Their project won the Discovery Award’s $2,000 prize for Outstanding Middle School Project, ensuring that more people would learn about the man who chose to stay.

Carl Wilkens’s story shows what it means to stand up for others, even at great personal risk. While so many fled, he remained, proving that one person’s courage and compassion can change the lives of many.

References:
Branzell, Alex. “Rwanda’s Restorative Journey: Living alongside Your Enemy .” Gladstein Family Human Rights Institute, 1 Jan. 2023, humanrights.uconn.edu/2023/01/01/rwandas-restorative-journey/.
“Carl Wilkens.” Gariwo, en.gariwo.net/righteous/rwandan-genocide/carl-wilkens-24826.html.
“Interviews - Carl Wilkens | Ghosts of Rwanda | Frontline.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 1 Apr. 2004, www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/ghosts/interviews/wilkens.html.
“World Outside My Shoes.” Worldoutsidemyshoes.Org, worldoutsidemyshoes.org/.
Wright, H.D. “In Conversation with Carl Wilkens.” TP, TP, 2 Aug. 2025, www.transnationalpolitics.com/post/carl-wilkens-why-i-stayed-in-rwanda.

Key words:
Civil Rights, Justice, Courage, Perseverance, Responsibility, Repair the World – Tikkun Olam, Make a Difference, Stand Up for Your Beliefs

Image Citation:
"Carl_Wilkens_22.jpg" by Carl Wilkens licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 / Changed to black and white from original

Explore ARTEFFECT projects about this Unsung Hero:
Carl Wilkens Artworks