Refugee life

Mukiza Emmanuel has many questions for his mother, Nyirasafari Leocadie, about her life before and after the war. Nyirasafari Leocadie describes her schooling, marriage, and raising children, and the hardships the family faced while living in exile. Mukiza Emmanuel is also eager to hear stories about his father and the grandfathers he never knew. Nyirasafari Leocadie tells him the lessons she learned from her father.

“During the war, I was then young. I would like to know about life during the war.” Mukiza Emmanuel

Ruhigisha Tharcisse and Murorunkwere Janet have never spoken about his past as a refugee who went from country and country after 1959, living in poverty in refugee camps. He eventually trained himself in a skill and was able to sustained himself. She has many questions for him. Ruhigisha Tharcisse has advice for her about how to sustain herself and has high hopes that she can survive with dignity.

Hadasa Esther respects her uncle, Rwamucyo Denys, and wants to know his life history. Rwamucyo Denys tells her about the identity cards that they were forced to carry before the war and how his family fled to Burundi to escape violence. Hadasa Esther asks her uncle many questions about the nature of ethnic discrimination and he reminds her that “All of us are Rwandese” and should be united. Despite the many hardships Rwamucyo Denys has been through, he wants his niece to stay positive and always concentrate on doing what is right.

Gahizi Valgas begins his story by telling his niece, Nyinawintore Marlaine, about the first time that he realized that he was a refugee. He describes the hardships that he and his family went through because they were not welcomed. He encourages his niece to continue her schooling, because in the past not everyone was given the right to education. He hopes that Nyinawintore Marlaine will fight against anything that could cause another genocide, because he does not want Rwandese to be forced to live as refugees again.

Mukantwali Felicita and her son discuss their family’s history; Felicita’s life as a refugee and orphan, and how lucky Rutiganda Rigobert is to have an emerging and improving Rwanda in his future. Together they discuss how Rutiganda Rigobert can become a part of a new generation that prizes education, learns from the Rwanda’s past, and moves Rwanda forward in education, culture and health. Their conversation touches on a variety of subjects ranging from the causes of the genocide to relationship advice.

Umuhoza Fanny asks her mother, Ingabire Pascaline, many of the questions she's wondered about for years: what country were you born in, how did you meet your husband, what was life as a refugee like, and many more. Ingabire Pascaline answers her daughter's questions and explains their family's history. She also tells Umuhoza Fanny how lucky she is to have grown up with a mother. Ingabire Pascaline describes how hard her father worked to provide for his children, how the loss of her mother at a young age affected her life, and why she credits patience for her success today.