Post-conflict (1994>Present)

Sisters Bayisenge Francine and Uwituze Yvette discuss romantic relationships. Because Bayisenge Francine is ten years older than Yvette and both happily married and well-educated, she has strong advice to offer to her younger sister. She stresses the importance of remaining independent, ambitious, and driven, despite temptations to marry early. Bayisenge Francine urges Uwituze Yvette to finish school before getting married so that she can not only receive a full education herself, but can also ensure that her husband values education as well.

Uwamurera Yvone asks her step-sister, Niyonteze Olive, to tell her about their family’s past. How did their father die in the genocide and how Uwamurera Yvone’s mother was left without inheritance. How Niyonteze Olive worked as a domestic worker, preserved herself, and was able to improve her life. Uwamurera Yvone wants to know how the family will take care of her in the future. Niyonteze Olive reminds her of the support that exists from her grandmother and other relatives, and advises her to be patient.

Uwihoreye Seraphine asks her aunt, Mukagatare Laetitia for advice on dating, intimate relationships, and the meaning of personal faith. Mukagatare Laetitia talks about her own adolescence and stresses the importance of women obtaining an education before they start worrying about men. Aunt and niece discuss Rwandan gender norms and Uwihoreye Seraphine learns how to protect herself in future relationships.

Nyiranzeyimana Solange comes to storytelling discontented about her life, wondering why she was left alone. Because she is young, she only knows the life she has right now, and cannot compare it to any other life, like the one during the genocide, and before. Could there have been a better life than this one, she asks her elder? Mukakayonde Anna works very hard to convince Nyiranzeyimana Solange that right now life is much better than before. In the same breath that she tells Nyiranzeyimana Solange that her relatives died in the genocide, she tries to bring hope.

With a focus on the importance of kindness and acceptance, Bankundiye Albertine tells her friend Nyinawumuntu Violette about her family’s past. She talks about her father, an educated man who was killed in the genocide, who would take children off the streets and help them get into schools. His good deeds and reputation inform Bankundiye Albertine’s actions and continue to keep her safe. She also mentions her challenges with her mother’s side of the family. Nyinawumuntu Violette offers consolation and advises Bankundiye Albertine to be loving towards her family and they will love her back.

Binta Samantha asks her aunt, Kabalesi Donatha, to tell the story of her life so far. She learns that, while the aunt’s parents loved her, they could not easily support her love for school. So she married, but the marriage was difficult and ended, while health problems followed. But Kabalesi Donatha found that her faith was a great source of guidance to her, and she wishes to pass on this to her niece. Binta Samantha puts her dilemmas squarely to her aunt—that the life of a young person is full of temptations, especially when the yearning in Rwanda is so much for life!

Stories For Hope created a forum for elders to inspire the youth; at least that’s what Mukakarangwa Judith and Karangwa Nadia expected when they accepted to share their story. In this story however, the roles reversed as an elder found encouragement and inspiration from her niece and adopted child who tries to point out how children now play together in Rwanda, even as their own parents were once enemies.

“I think that my child’s view has challenged even me.” Mukakarangwa Judith

Nyinawabagesera Amandine wants to share some of her life stories, both good and bad, with her friend Uwimana Jean Claude so that he can learn from her example. After being orphaned by the genocide, Nyinawabagesera Amandine risked going to school without supplies. There, she overcame many challenges associated with depression, drugs, and alcohol through the support of friends and her faith. Nyinawabagesera Amandine says she is inspired by the people around her and resolves to help other orphans like herself who have almost lost all hope.

Nyirambarushimana Devote takes this opportunity to give her daughter, Uwimana Grace advice, for she wants Grace to live a better life than she did. She says that the most important thing is to work hard and to always cooperate with others. Nyirambarushimana Devote emphasizes that if you work well with others you can achieve much more than if you work only by yourself. Uwimana Grace is thankful for this advice, and she offers to help her mother to support the family.