Song written by Lewis Bucumi
“Refugees”
I have something in my heart that I am missing.
My friend, are you all right?
Are you still fine?
Although I am a refugee,
it is not I who decided to be one.
Now I sleep in a tent,
yet once I had a beautiful house.
Please God, help Burundians find peace in their land.
Let your holy spirit come and judge people who do the killings.
I am not a street boy, as we Burundians say.
I did not come here because of hunger, as the leaders say.
I left behind plantations ripe for harvest.
I left maize ready but now eaten by bugs.
I abandoned cattle and sheep on the farm.
I left milk in the milk pots.
I left potato and cassava, now consumed by insects.
I left all at home.
I came with nothing.
Now I feed on maize, oil, beans.
At home I ate whatever I wanted.
I am here not because I wanted to come here. No!
I wanted to save my life!
I left the girl I love crying alone on the hills.
I thank Rwanda for welcoming us.
I thought I would never return to school and write.
I thank UNHCR and ADRA for the help they give.
You built a school so we can study as we once did.
We study math, English, French.
Parents, come together! Put our children in school.
In a refugee camp, nothing can be higher priority
than educating our children.
May God bless you.
Page 11 of 15
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Joint Statement: Government of Rwanda, UNHCR and African Union agree to evacuate refugees out of Libya
10 Sep 2019Refugees from Somalia, Syria and Eritrea board a bus at UNHCR’s Gathering and Departure Facility in Tripoli, April 2019. © UNHCR/Mohamed Alalem The Government of Rwanda, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the African Union have today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to set up a transit mechanism for evacuating refugees […]
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Rwanda: Refugees and Host Communities join forces in the Misizi Marshland to improve their livelihoods
19 Jul 2019Earlier this year, the farmers produced more than 101 tonnes of maize, of which 37 tonnes were sold to the Africa Improved Food company. The remaining amount enabled the farmers to feed their families.
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UNHCR and the Ministry of Education inaugurate new classrooms in Gatsibo district.
30 May 2019UNHCR and the Government ensure that school-going-age refugee children in Rwanda are guaranteed quality protective education through their integration into the national school system alongside Rwandan students.
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Japan funds UNHCR Rwanda some $ 270,000 for Legal assistance, Child Protection and Health in Mahama camp
13 May 2019“We are grateful for the contribution from the Government of Japan and looking forward to serve together the people of concerns” – Ahmed Baba Fall, UNHCR Representative in Rwanda.
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Remembering our colleagues Nadia, Jessica and Jackson
14 Mar 2019Dedicated humanitarians Nadia Adam Abaker Ali, Jessica Hyba and Jackson Musoni were among 157 people who died in the crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 302.
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UNHCR mourns the deaths of three colleagues killed in Ethiopian Airlines crash
11 Mar 2019UNHCR chief mourns staff dead in Ethiopian Airlines crash (Michelle Hoffman, producer / Alex St-Denis, camera-editor) GENEVA – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is mourning today the tragic loss of three colleagues killed in the Ethiopian Airlines crash in Ethiopia yesterday morning (10 March). UNHCR’s own Nadia Ali, Jessica Hyba and Jackson […]
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Seeking safety in Rwanda, Somali refugee finds opportunity and love
8 Mar 2019Ali Abdi fled conflict in Somalia two decades ago and is now a proud business owner and father in Rwanda’s capital.
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Higher education opens doors for refugees in Rwanda
4 Feb 2019UNHCR’s partner Kepler provides refugees access to internationally recognized degrees and helps them transform their lives.
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UNHCR and partners seek US$296 million for Burundi refugee crisis
15 Jan 2019This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Charlie Yaxley – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today’s press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
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‘Get tested, Help keep you healthy and others safe’ – A tale of refugees living with HIV in Rwanda
4 Jan 2019“Knowing my HIV status gave me piece of mind – and testing was the only way I could know for sure.”