MUKAMUHANGA Basilie - Born 1990 in Rukumberi

Date of birth: 11/09/1990
Place of birth: Rukumberi
Location: Rukumberi
Community: Rukumberi

Deceased Family Members:
KABERUKA Joseph, father, genocide
KANYUNDO Théresie, mother, genocide
9 Siblings all killed during the genocide

Current Family situation:
I am a student in secondary school and in my studies, I face many problem because, I have no source of any income to help me getting school materials.

Family story
I was still very young when the genocide started and I don’t remember what happened after they have killed my parents. I had 9 siblings and they were all killed, I remained alone. I have buried only one of them and don’t know where the rest were killed from. I live with my cousin brother, married with 3 children. He has no other job apart from cultivating to get income for his home.

Testimony details
When I think about what I have been through, I don’t know what to believe in, I don’t know if I can believe in God or not.

Wishes:
I wish to have any support that will help me in my studies and let me have a good future.

Objectives:
My objectives are to live and live in good conditions, to hep others who are like me.

MUKASHYAKA Simonie - Born 1960 in Gitarama

Date of birth: 23/8/1960
Place of birth: Gitarama
Location: Kigali
Solace Community: Nyamirambo
Mother tongue: Kinyarwanda

Tutor/ guardian: MUKASHYAKA Simonie

Deceased Family Members:
Gakuba Barnab, father, genocide
Kabarenz Esther, mother, genocide
Hategekimana Narcice, my husband, genocide
Mutarabaruka Aphrodis, brother, genocide
Mtarambirwa John, brother, genocide
Mukansanga Januarie, sister, genocide
Mukabyagaju Jeanne, sister, genocide
Cyubahiro Paul, my son, genocide
Ujeneza Pierre, my son, genocide
Mazimpaka Cyprien, my son, genocide
Unnamed, my baby son, genocide


Current Family situation:
I am living alone in a small basic house. It is very had to get a food, rent fee and other basic needs because I am very old. Life is very critical for me and sometimes I feel there is no hope for tomorrow.

Family story/ experience during genocide
What happened to me in 1994 is a long story; it is very hard for me to talk about it. The killers killed my husband, my 4 children, all my brothers, sisters, parents and the entire family. I had a 9 month pregnancy during genocide in a way that I gave birth during the tough time when people were being killed around me. I had no body to nurse for me and nothing to eat and give my baby. The baby died of hunger and coldness. When I put it down a dog took it and ate it in front of me. I will never forget that scene because the image always came into my mind. Now I am alone, it is only God who protects me.

Faith Testimony details
I am a born again Christian since February 2007 because I realised there is no other refugee but in God. I live only by the grace of Jesus.

Wishes
My first wish is to have a home, a place to sleep and find some thing to do to earn an income for the living.

Ambitions
It is very hard to have ambitions when you are living the kind of life that I am living.

Alphonse RUGINA - Born 1986 in Rukumberi

Place of birth: Rukumberi

Location: Rukumberi
Community: Rukumberi

Father: RUGINA Athanasee (died during genocide)
Mother: UWIMBABAZI Cécile (died during genocide)

Family details:
I am an orphan and have lost my parents in the genocide and from then I live a very bad life because I have physical disability as a consequence of the genocide.

Family story
I was living with my parents when the genocide broke out. We heard that some of our neighbours were killed and we fleet to the nearest church that was there but it was not the right thing to do because my parents and young brothers were killed there but I got a chance and survived and went to hide into bushes.

Testimony details
Despite what happened to me, I believe in God and believe that all this pain has an end.

Wish
I wish to get any sponsor who will support me in my life and I wish to get medical treatment.

Objectives
To work hard and live a good life.

Sarah NIYIZUKURI - Born 1994 in Rukumberi

Date of birth: 1994
Place of birth: Rukumberi
Location: Rukumberi
Community: Rukumberi

Family Members:
Mother’s name: AHISHAKIYE Drocelle
Father’s name: NKUSI André (killed in genocide)

Current Family situation:
We are orphans and live with our mother, we are two children. Our father is dead. my mother is handicapped and when we go to school, she remain alone and she has difficulties to find us school materials.

Family story/ experience during genocide
Genocide begun when I was still a baby. Our mother tells us that she fled with us in the river. We were 4 children before the genocide and two were killed together with our father and other family members and only two of us and my mother survived. Life was not easy for my mother to cater for us but we thank God we have grown up.

Faith Testimony details
I am a born again Christian and I thank God for what He has done to me and my family.

Wishes:
My wish is to have a support in my studies so that can prepare a good future for my own. Another with is to have a support to restore the house we live in.

Objectives:
My objective is to get through this life that I am into and to be for any help for my family.

URAYENEZA Athanase - Born 1981 in Gishyita

Location: Rukumberi

Community: Rukumberi

Family details
Father’s name: HABYARINKA Eduardo
Mother’s name: MUKANGAMIJE Constance

I live with my parent, I have one, and with my young brothers. We live in a small house that we have been given. One of my young brothers is always sick, we have to get for him treatments and it is hard for us. My father has a stomach problem and he is most of the times sick.

Family story
The genocide began when we were living with both of my parents. My mother and the youngest of my siblings that she was carrying on her back were killed then. We spent a week hiding in bushes and forest and on the 17th, April 1994, we came to pray in a church and that is where the militias came and killed a big number of those who we were in the church. Me and my young brothers went to hide somewhere near by, I was carrying one of them. When we went to the neighbour’s, they threw us away from their house saying that they don’t want us there. On the 19th April 1994, one man took us to a militias camp and we stayed there some times, after that, we continue to Burundi, and it is where we met our father who arrived there after escaping militias who were running after him. We stayed there as refugees and had a very bad life of sickness, we had dysentery because of bad life in refugee camps and then after, we came back in Rwanda, here in Rukumberi, but water here was very dirty and infected, full of dead bodies, my father felt sick nearly to death.

Testimony details
I believe that because God protected and helped us, we have to have hope and because he is able.

Wishes
I wish that I could be comforted and continue my studies in university because I have finished secondary school. My other wish is that me and my brothers could have a house to live in because the one we have is almost down, destroyed.

Objectives
My plans are to build a hope inside of me and to work with my hands to prepare a good future. To continue praying and believe in God and also forgive.

Marie Nyiransengimana - Born 1986 in Bisesero

Date of birth: 10/10/1986

Place of birth: Bisesero
Father: Gashakamba Thomas (Died during genocide)
Mother: Mukandirima Marianne
Brother: Muhayimana Samuel (Died during genocide)
Sister: Mujawayezu Ester (Died during genocide)
Brother: Kwizera Obed (Died during genocide)
Sister: Uwiringiyimana Ruth(Died during genocide)
Brother: Nsengiyumva Martin, 28 years old

Guardian: NONE

Location: Bisesero

Family details:
I live a very miserable life, I have completed secondary school but I have no job because I have no good qualifications since I have not got the means university. Even the house I live in is almost destroyed; I don’t know what to do.

Family story
In genocide I have lost my parents and siblings, but now, I stand alone, I have no one to tell my pain, it is just me.

Testimony details
Really, everyone should believe in God. When I look back, and remember what he has done for me, that I have survived among others, it is all because of his will. Prayers help me feeling comforted.

Wishes
I wish to have good education and good life.My major wish is to get access to University to get good qualifications thus qualifies to get a good job. Our country is poor and there is no opportunities for development unless one is educated.

Easther MUTESI - Born 1993 in Uganda

Date of birth: 7/8/1993

Place of birth: Uganda
Father: Emmanuel GACYERI (Died HIV Aids)
Mother: Faith MUKANTARAMBIRWA (Died HIV Aids)
Grandfather: NKOMEJE Noel (Died Sickness)
Guardian: NYINAWUMUNTU Janet
Siblings: Faith MUTONI, SISTER ,b. 1995, Primary 5

Mother tongue: Kinyarwanda

Location: Rukumberi

Current Family situation
I am living with my grand mother who is very old and very poor and other 3 orphans. It is very difficult for us to get food and school requirements. I am not sure where about my life.

Family story
I was born in Uganda where my parents were living as refugees. I never knew my parents. My mother died when I was one year old. My father too died just one year after my mother had died. From that time, I was brought to Rwanda to live with my grand parents who are very old and with out an income. My grand father who had been trying to search for our living died in August 2009 and we were left by our grand mother who has no any means to cater for us. Some times it is the neighbours who give us the basic needs.

Testimony details
I am a Christian in the Anglican Church ad I sing in the Sunday school choir.

Wishes
I wish to have good education and good life.

ISHIMWE Dieudonné - Born 1991 in Rukumberi

Date of birth: 1991
Place of birth: Rukumberi
Location: Rukumberi
Community: Rukumberi

Father: NDEKEZI Charles
Mother: AKAYEZU Françoise

Family details:
I live with my sister and my mother. My sister is handicapped on both legs. And my mother doesn’t work. For me, I am a student in mechanics. We live in a house that have been built by a benefactor but needs to be restored.

Family story
Before the genocide, I was living with my parents and siblings, 4 of them. When the killers attacked us, we all run to different directions. My sister, I and my mother went on one way; my father brother and the eldest sister took another direction. They were killed. For us, the militias beat us very hard and until now, my sister and mother still pay for that. When they came to kill me, there came some soldiers and took us into a church and they killed all who were inside. They stroke me with a club at the back and went away, thinking that I was dead. It has been two years that we have buried those who died in a memorial site.


Testimony details
In my nature, I am someone who loves God and I believe that He is our creator and I love His other creatures. But when I think about what they have done to me, that I don’t have a family because of them, I am sad and in those times, I hate them but I pray hard.

Wishes
I wish to be someone who will be appreciated in his society and to be someone who will have great ideas to build our nation, to destroy it. And I wish you to continue supporting us, so that we can be for any help.

Objectives
My objectives are to finish my studies, secondary and university and have a good future. To live and live well. I will do it with the help of God.

Charlotte NYIRAHABIMANA - Born 1992 in Kagabiro

Date of birth: 4th Aug 1992

Place of birth: Kagabiro
Location: Mubuga
Community: Bisesero

Guardian: Uwimana Samuel (Male aged 58)

Father: Rwakarayire Emmanuel (died during genocide)
Mother: Uwamukunda Rosa (died during genocide)

Family details:
I am living with my maternal uncle, Uwimana Samuel who is very old and poor with his 2 children and his wife Nyirakamana Susan. Life is very hard for us because my uncle was badly handicapped by genocide in a way that he can’t work. My uncle’s first wife was killed during genocide with all children and he remarried as a mean of finding someone who can cultivate and grow food for us.

Family story
Both my parents were killed during genocide, I was only 2 years old and I don’t know what took place. I was told that I was the first born of my parents and had no any sibling. My parents and all their families were killed.

Testimony details
I am an Adventist Christian.

Nelly MPINGANZIMA - Born 1991 in Rukumberi

Date of birth: 1/1/1991
Place of birth: Rukumberi
Location: Rukumberi
Community: Rukumberi

Family Members:
UFITINKA Marie Régis, mother
NTIGANZIRWA Isaie, father, genocide
2 Siblings all killed during the genocide

Current Family situation:
I live with my mother and she is a widow, we live in very bad conditions because my mother has no source of income or any other support to help us for livings.

Family story
I have survived here in Rukumberi. We were 4 children before the genocide but we are now two. We used to hide in marshes and into sorghum plantations during the genocide; we stayed there until the RPF army came to rescue us, at the end of the genocide.

Testimony details
I am a Christian and like to pray in a Presbyterian church. I will walk in the path of God.

Wishes:
I wish to have a support for my studies. I have finished primary school and will go to study in the Northern Province.

Objectives:
When I will have a chance and finish my studies, I will develop my family and country.

MUTETELI Clémence - Born 1993 in Rukumberi

Date of birth: 1993
Place of birth: Rukumberi
Location: Rukumberi
Community: Rukumberi

Father: NKUSI William
Mother: MUKANKUSI Immaculée

Family details:
I live in very bad conditions because I stay with a very old lady. It is hard for me to attend school because I don’t have enough school materials. Some days, I miss school to help her getting something to eat.

Family story
I was very young and all I know is what I have been told. They told me that my mother was killed when she was carrying me, they killed her with a spear. We were 10 children but I remain alone now.

Testimony details
I believe that I will live if I keep on praying but I have some difficulties to pray because some priests and pastor was involved in the killings of our people.

Wishes
I wish to get a support for my studies; to have a home or any other support can help me.

Objectives
My objective is to get out of this situation that I am crawling in by studying very hard.

Pierre RUDAHIGWA - Born 1992 in Gishyita

Date of birth: 1992

Place of birth: Gishyita
Father: GASORE Anglebert
Mother: NYIRANSENGIMANA Immaculée
Sister: Uwamaliya Pacifique (Died during genocide)
Sister: Muhire Claudine, Age 17, 3rd Grade
Sister: Nyinawumuntu, Age 12, Primary 4
Brother: Kwizera Elie, Age 7, Primary 1

Guardians: Parents

Location: Mpembe

Community: Gishyita

Family details:
He is living with his mother and father who are both handicapped by genocide and very traumatised and incapable of doing anything to provide basic needs for their family. They are just helped by the good neighbours.

Family story
Both parents are survivors of genocide, they are very handicapped and traumatised. The father is very bad.

Testimony details
I am a catholic.

Wishes
Support for basic needs and good education.

BUGIRIMFURA Emmy - Born 1992 in Gishyita

Date of birth: 1992
Place of birth: Gishyita
Location: Mpembe
Community: Gishyita

Father: Nteziryayo Jean (died during genocide)
Mother: Mukansonera Tamari
Brother: Bugirimfura Emmy, Age 18, 1st Grade
Brother: Sinumvayabo Edouard, Age 20, 6th Grade

Guardian: Mukansonera Tamari

Family details:
I live a very hard life because I have no parents, to find what to eat. After school, I have to go labour for other people some times who killed my parents to find something to eat.

Family story
Genocide begun when I was only 2 years old but I have been told that they have killed my father. God has protected me in those times. I was left with my brother and mother who was handicapped and left with know means to provide for us.

Testimony details
I am an Adventist Christian.

Wishes
I wish to have a changed life.

Théoneste NKUSI - Born 1993 in Rukumberi

Date of birth: 1993

Place of birth: Rukumberi

Location: Rukumberi

Community: Rukumberi

Father’s name: NYIRIBAMBE Théodore

Mother’s name: MUKANYUNGA Consolée

Family details:
I am the only survivor of a family of 8 and I live alone, it is hard for me to get school materials and school fees, even transport.

Family story:
The genocide begun when I was very young. All my family were killed, I just remain with my mother, I have been told that some of my brothers were shoot and others thrown into the river but God protected me and I survived. After genocide, life became very hard for us because my mother had no job yet all our properties had been taken by the Interahamwe militias and our houses destroyed. I always have problems and wondering why people killed others in such away.

Testimony details:
I believe that God exists and that he is there for me, I pray a lot for him to protect me. I just sometimes hesitate about going into churches because some of their leaders were involved in the genocide.

Wishes:
I wish to have a support in my daily life because I have no source of income or any other support.