Voices of Refugees
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Navigating Teen Pregnancy in a Refugee Camp
19 Apr 2024Anne*, 18, a Congolese refugee living in the Mahama camp in Rwanda, embodies the resilience of displaced young mothers when life gets tough. Anne’s arduous journey began in 2012 when, at the tender age of six, she fled the turmoil of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with her family, […]
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Congolese refugee’s battle with cardiac disease
19 Mar 2024It was a nightmare when, in mid-2021, Obed Nyirimigabo, now aged 67, started abruptly losing consciousness every so often. This was compounded by difficulties breathing, heightened weakness, severe dryness, loss of appetite, and sleep struggles. “At first, I went to the health centre and they gave me some medicines, but […]
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Creative arts: a gateway to hope for refugees
12 Mar 2024At the public entrance to Kigali Triennale Art exhibition, Heritier Mugisha and Ingabire Umulisa – both Congolese refugees – tighten a bolt onto a metal tube, with a spanner in hand. Behind them, there is a row of metallic suitcases that they would later help to transform into something more— […]
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From surviving to thriving: a Congolese refugee woman’s journey into business
8 Mar 2024At a grocery store in Kigeme Refugee Camp, Diane Feza is busy weighing food items including flour, rice, and potatoes before handing them to buyers. The Congolese refugee also chats with customers who want to withdraw money through the agent banking system. This is her daily activity to sustain her […]
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Refugee men in Mahama take the lead in raising awareness about gender-based violence
16 Feb 2024In Mahama camp, a group of refugee men is standing up against gender-based violence (GBV). These men, by being positive and supportive, are contributing to support women feel comfortable with talking about things they couldn’t talk about before. “When we conduct campaigns in the camp, more people become aware of gender-based […]
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Refugee students in Rwanda need more support to strive for a better future
24 Jan 2024While 70 percent of young refugees are enrolled in secondary school, only 4 percent of refugees enroll in higher education in Rwanda.
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Community Health Care advances refugee well-being in Nyabiheke refugee camp
27 Dec 2023Julienne, a Congolese refugee and nurse, attends to Frank who has been admitted to the health centre in Nyabiheke refugee camp with an ear infection. His mother, Patience, explains that the infection has been a recurring problem over the last couple of months but that doctors and nurses at the […]
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Refugee women in Rwanda show resilience and self-reliance through business ventures
20 Dec 2023Step into Kiziba refugee camp that hosts Congolese refugees in western Rwanda, and you’ll quickly hear about Iribagiza Nakabonye. Not because her restaurant is famous, but her real magic lies in being a role model for self-reliance — she’s a living example of how displaced people can thrive even in […]
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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 […]