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.
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Improved infrastructure enhances educational standards in Rwandan schools hosting refugees
14 Dec 2023The construction of new classrooms at GS Mugombwa, a school hosting both Rwandans and refugee students from Mugombwa camp in Gisagara District, has proven to be a game-changer. The alleviation of overcrowding has created an environment where students can more effectively engage with their teachers’ explanations, enhancing the quality of […]
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Clean cooking energy improves lives in Mugombwa refugee camp
12 Dec 2023Around midday, Dina Umutesi, a Congolese refugee living in Mugombwa camp located in southern Rwanda, has just turned on her gas stove to prepare her family’s meals. She’s confident that it won’t take long to get her lunch ready. But the daily cooking routine hasn’t always been this smooth in […]
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DAFI scholarship nurtures dreams of refugee students in Rwanda
9 Dec 2023On a rainy Monday afternoon, Samuel Kwihangana, a Congolese refugee, is getting ready for his first exam at the University of Lay Adventists of Kigali (UNILAK) – Nyanza campus located in southern Rwanda – where he’s pursuing a degree in Law. The 24-year-old refugee student is using his mobile phone […]
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Sign language training expands horizons for refugees in Rwanda
3 Dec 2023Having sought refuge in Rwanda in 2015, Ange Bukweberi has recently completed a transformative sign language course in Kigali. The Burundian refugee, who was previously working at a physiotherapy clinic in Kigali hopes to use her newfound skills in non-verbal communication to embark on a new journey assisting others in […]
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UNHCR supports resettlement as part of solutions for refugees in Rwanda
22 Nov 2023Since the beginning of 2023, over 6,200 refugees in Rwanda have departed to USA, Norway, New Zealand, Australia, Netherlands, France, Finland, Denmark, Belgium, and Canada.
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Farming boosts refugee resilience in Nyabiheke
10 Nov 2023Forced to flee his native village in South Kivu of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 2008, Jean-Paul Runezerwa, 43, settled in Nyabiheke refugee camp in the eastern part of Rwanda. Initially, adjusting to life in the camp was a challenge for Jean-Paul until he began farming at Nyabicwamba […]
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Meet Francine: The multilingual bridge between refugees and humanitarian workers
30 Sep 2023At the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, the role of translators is pivotal in upholding the protection of refugees and asylum seekers. On International Translation Day, Francine Uwishema, a translator working for UNHCR in Rwanda, tells her story.
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Birth Registration prevents risk of statelessness in Rwanda
28 Sep 2023Florence is still trying to decide on a name for her new-born baby boy, who is less than 12 hours old. She is excited to introduce him to his four siblings at home in Mahama refugee camp and is sure they will also have opinions regarding his name. One thing […]
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Forced into exile again, displaced Congolese start anew in Rwanda
22 Sep 2023Two decades after their initial return from exile, Leah and her family once more sought safety in Rwanda due to the escalating violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
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Refugees and locals join hands to restore the environment in Rwanda
4 Sep 2023Congolese refugees in Kigeme camp are working with Rwandans to plant trees to protect the soil and participate in environmental rehabilitation efforts.