Mukagatera Alphonsia

"My ambition is to make my family a better family...All along we've been refugees."

21 years old. Student at Kigali Institute of Management (KIM).

Christian, ambitious. Her dream after graduation is to run a photo studio in Kigali.

 

Her family, in her own words:

 

"Lawrence Muhinde (Caring) 26 years

Magnifique Muhinde (Loving/Magnificent) 27

Bob Laura Muhinde (Music) 25

Paul Rutanga (Believe in God) 23

Alphonsia Mukagatera 21

Deo Muhinde (Hard Work/Intelligent) 18

Chantal Gichanda (Humble) 16

Eliza Mukasharagabo (funny) 12"

 

Exiled to Burundi in 1958, Alphonsia's family was nomadic for years.

From Burundi, her family went to Uganda then Kenya then back to Uganda

until they finally returned home to Rwanda in 1995, less than a year after

the genocide.

 

Like thousands of people in Rwanda, Alphonsia's parents are too

poor to provide an education for their family. Luckily, Alphonsia's participation

in The African Children's Choir provided her the opportunity to learn English, travel,

and get a better education than the rest of her 7 siblings. Living near Gisimba Memorial Center on the outskirts of Kigali meant Alphonsia was able to connect with Damas Gisimba--a hero from the genocide-- whose orphanage is sponsored by the America based NGO Orphans of Rwanda.

 

Currently, Alphonsia's university tuition is sponsored by Orphans of Rwanda. Co-directed by Oliver Rothschild and dai Ellis, Orphans of Rwanda is working hard to

help 30+ students like Alphonsia, though most in the program are orphans who have

lived at Gisimba Memorial Center for years.

 

For more information about donating to Orphans of Rwanda, please visit orphansofrwanda.org

 

Kigali, Rwanda. Africa

Interview: July 30, 2006.

East Africa

 

Done