On June 24, 1984, in Runyinya, Rwanda, I was born into my eight-member family. The little money we had satisfied our family’s daily needs. During my school years my dad would take me to Karama primary school. I was intelligent and I placed first in my class every trimester for three years in a row before the genocide broke out. I liked doing well in school and my parents would congratulate me.

When I was in third grade the genocide started in my neighborhood, as it did all over the country. After President Habyarimana’s death, people were tortured in Gitarama and Gikongoro. On April 14, 1994 my family left our house and sought refuge with our Hutu neighbors in Karama. On April 21, the Apocalypse came down on us – the killers came armed with machetes, guns, traditional weapons and attacked from all directions. The few survivors fought all day and then escaped towards Burundi. I was left with my two little sisters and my little brother. My parents and the other children in our family were murdered. As refugees in Burundi, life was very difficult. We had to find our own food, shelter and clothing while dealing with the sorrow we felt every day.

After six months of living as refugees we returned to our country to rebuild our lives. Life was difficult because our house was destroyed, our Hutu neighbors had taken our land, and most of our family had been massacred. I returned to third grade in 1996, and in spite of the hardships, I succeeded in my studies, just like before. When my brother was in 4th grade he decided to drop out to take care of our family. I continued with my secondary studies and participated in the anti-AIDS club and the commission for unity and reconciliation. We wanted to change the ideas of our neighbors and the general population in order to stop ethnic discrimination.

I always dreamed of going to university because with a degree it is easier to find a job anywhere in the world. Once I get a good job I will release my brother from his responsibility; I will take care of my little sisters and my future family. After I graduate, I want to become a civil engineer so that I will be able to construct beautiful buildings. Rwanda needs foreign investment and I can channel it towards infrastructure.

While I cannot help orphans with material support, my gift is my advice and my example. I hope that my story will inspire other orphans and I would like to advise them to study even if they believe there is nothing worth living for. We are orphans today but we will be Rwanda’s leaders tomorrow. We need to study and work hard to stop poverty. I began my studies of social science at Université Libre de Kigali (ULK) after being awarded a scholarship from Orphans of Rwanda. I hope that other orphans will have the opportunity to attend university and to live just like any other kid with parents.