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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Community care provides lifeline for elderly refugees in Mahama refugee camp
24 Aug 2023When Constantin fled his home in Burundi over eight years ago, he never imagined he would strike up such a close relationship with a complete stranger. But he now describes Marc, his 82-year-old neighbour, as one of his closest friends. “My world became smaller when we fled to Rwanda. I […]
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Finding Hope through Education
15 Aug 2023I am Steven Nshizirungu, a Congolese refugee living in Rwanda since 2012. I was born into a loving family that provided me with a wonderful childhood filled with care and all the necessities a child could ask for back in the eastern DR Congo. When I turned fourteen, however, everything […]
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Strength in adversity: A refugee’s resilience to cope with HIV
10 Aug 2023When the 2015 political violence broke out in Burundi, Olive* and her children decided to flee their home. Unlike other refugees, Olive, however, carried a heavy burden that added to her refugee challenges – she was HIV positive. Seeking safety and a new beginning, Olive and her children arrived in […]
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A joint agriculture project fosters self-reliance and social cohesion among refugee and host communities in Kigeme
28 Jul 2023Back home in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Tumaine Ntamashakiro used to make a living through small-scale farming. However, in 2012, life took an unexpected turn when he found himself seeking refuge in Rwanda along with his wife and children due to violence, leaving behind their home and […]
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Inside Rwanda’s largest school where the UN is helping thousands of students
7 Jul 2023Paysannat L is the biggest school in Rwanda. Over 20,000 children from both the nearby Mahama refugee camp and Rwandan host community walk through the doors of its five different campuses every morning and afternoon. Managing such a large proportion of students is no easy task. And although the school […]
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On World Refugee Day, UNHCR celebrates refugee inclusion in Rwanda
20 Jun 2023On the occasion of World Refugee Day, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, honours the courage and hope of the millions of people globally forced to flee war, violence and persecution. Focusing on the theme of ‘Hope Away from Home, World Refugee Day this year showcases how refugees and other displaced […]
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A Congolese refugee builds a flourishing bakery enterprise in Kiziba camp
9 Jun 2023“As time went on, I realized a huge demand for baked products in the camp and I decided to start my bakery,” says Abel Nsengamungu. “I am now happy that the business kept growing since then.” Abel, 42, a Congolese refugee living in Kiziba camp, recounts how he started his […]
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Chasing a childhood dream despite being forced to flee
2 Jun 2023At 11 years old, Jackson Mugisha, envisioned himself making a difference in the medical field once grown up. Back then, he was in primary five in his home of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). But fast forward 14 years and now a refugee in Rwanda, Jackson is on his […]
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Japan supports UNHCR’s 2023 refugee response in Rwanda
23 May 2023Kigali, Rwanda – The Government of Japan announced its support to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the refugee response in Rwanda, amounting to USD 500,000 USD. This contribution from Japan will boost the efforts of UNHCR in providing water, sanitation and hygiene related services to newly […]
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Mahama camp: the resilience of refugee women through basket weaving
12 May 2023Woven baskets are an iconic Rwandan staple. Originally used to store grains and carry fruit and vegetables, in recent years they have come to represent Rwandan culture; a symbol of peace, hope and opportunity. The process of weaving baskets, therefore, couldn’t be more relevant to refugee communities, many who have […]