Signature moves: Frederick inscribes book for Cotter

Bailey Hansen and Mac Whaley|March 9, 2016

Having an author sign a book can be a thrill, but when the author is Frederick Ndabaramiye, the feeling goes deeper.

Watching Frederick sign a copy of his autobiography, Frederick: A story of Boundless Hope, co-authored by Amy Parker with a foreword by Jack Hanna, leaves quite an impression.

The video above shows Frederick signing his book for Cotter at Winona State’s Stark Hall during the Frozen River Film Festival. Chris Livingston of The Book Shelf was at the table with Frederick.

A 15 minute documentary about Frederick’s life, I Am Able, directed by Isaac and Jacob Siegel Boettner of Pedal Born Pictures, was featured at FRFF and Frederick spoke to full houses at both St. Mary’s University and Winona State.

Jacob and Isaac also showed the film to the Cotter student body with Jacob taking questions about Frederick and the film after the showing.

The Siegel Boettners family met Frederick while leading a group of students from Santa Barbara Middle School on a bicycle trip through Rwanda. Impressed by his talents and personality they kept in touch and became friends. When the brothers became filmmakers, they knew by documenting Frederick’s amazing life they had an inspirational story to share .

Both book and film tell the story of the horrific violence inflicted upon Frederick in the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide. Both also focus on Frederick’s amazing recovery and the direction his life has taken since suffering the loss of his hands.

Frederick is an accomplished artist and sold his paintings and artworks at the FRFF. Some of the money he makes from his art and books sales help fund the Ubumwe community center he co-founded and runs for people with disabilities in Rwanda.

According to the community center’s website: “Ubumwe translates to “unity or togetherness”. At the Ubumwe Community Center, we strive to help people with disabilities find their abilities.

To have a place where people with different disabilities meet to socialize and share their challenges.
To help people with disabilities to find their abilities.
By sharing their challenges they can find their own solutions.
Provide economic opportunities for self-reliance through skills training.
Enable respect and self-worth by providing a community for those who previously had no place to go.
Provide a place where able bodied people and people of disability explore their common humanity.”

Students interested in reading the book can checkout the copy with Mr. Forney or visit the Book Shelf to purchase a copy.