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A CHARITY founder has revealed the horrific catalysts that led her to dedicate her life to helping bring stability to developing countries.
Ten years ago, Lucy Dickenson escaped death at least twice aged just 18 on a gap year to Uganda, and says the trauma was so bad she only told her own mother about it three months ago.
Now 29, the managing director of South Wales-based The Safe Foundation has spoken out about the extreme violence she witnessed in the then war-torn African country.
Lucy of Barry found herself caught up in violent unrest in the spring of 1999, when a group of Western tourists were mutilated and murdered by Rwandan Hutu rebels as they watched rare gorillas at popular attraction Bwindi National Park.
Lucy was staying in the same hotel as the group in the town of Kibale at the time and had opted against joining them on their visit as she had an early start at the orphanage where she worked the following day.
Eight tourists, including four Britons and two Americans and four Ugandans died - the victims' bodies were found covered in panga wounds.
Lucy, who travelled to Uganda after finishing school, spent the next three weeks fearing for her life after the region was declared a war zone.
"When it was declared a war zone, the atmosphere changed," said Lucy, who told her family back in Wales via...