My name is Sammy Kabera Mumama. I was born in the Sovu sector in the Kigabiro district of Rwamagan in the east province where I lived with my parents, my brothers and sisters in a harmonious life. Unfortunately, in 1994, where the genocide of the Tutsi happened, I lost most of my immediate family: my parents, my brothers and sisters. Despite all of that, I managed to survive this tragedy. My only remaining brother and I lived with our maternal grandmother. We happened to be visiting her in the tiny village where she lived with my aunts and uncles when the genocide was happening. It was because we were there that we managed to survive this massacre, for, it was during this visit that my brother and I learned that our family had been murdered. My relatives knew it was all our turn to be killed next.

Therefore our grandparents told us to disperse and in that moment my brother, my aunt, and I made the decision to leave together. My other relatives decided to find their way as well and I knew that it was the last moment we would all be together.

After the genocide I was a little traumatized by the loss of my family and all of those around me. Many of those around me were able to start school again but I didn’t yet have the courage or strength. I felt alone and completely abandoned without my family. Still little by little I began to feel okay again and with the advice and gentle pushing of friends, I decided to return to school because I knew I wanted to be a respectable man in honor of all those in my family.

I received the FARG scholarship (in a foundation set up for survivors of the genocide), which paid for my French schooling and I finished my secondary school studies in sciences, but I was unable to continue my university education because of lack of funding.

Through the Uyisenga N’Manzi, I finished my first year of studies in university at ULK (Universite libre de Kigali) in social sciences. I would love to resume my studies and my life to become an honorable man. I thank all the people who have helped me and wish to help me and I hope that this miracle occurs that I can continue my studies.

Samy works for Uyisenga N’Manzi in hopes of helping his fellow orphans of genocide and furthering his education as much as he can