Aspirations of a Burundian refugee athlete living with disabilities come real after qualifying for the Tokyo Paralympics.
“The day I was shot in the arm was also the day my mother was murdered. That was the most dreadful day of my life, merging the two largest hurdles of my whole existence,” said the Burundian athlete.
Worst still was the fact that after spending close to two years in hospital recuperating, his father died in a motorcycle accident a few years later, and a few years later Parfait was forced to flee his country with thousands of others to Rwanda.
“I was only 11 when I lost everything. My left arm, my mom and my father but fleeing my country was the hardest thing, almost impossible to imagine after everything I went through.”
Parfait fled conflicts in Burundi in 2015, finding refuge in Mahama Refugee Camp, the largest camp in Rwanda, near the border with his birth country, Burundi. Despite a tough childhood, Parfait’s tale is one of resilience, hope and perseverance. He discovered athletics, specifically Taekwondo, which raised his spirits and rescued him.
“Taekwondo saved me. I want to help others in the same way,” he said. “Here in the camp, refugees don’t have a lot, but sport helps them forget their troubles.”
A year after settling in at Mahama Refugee Camp, Parfait established a Taekwondo club. He currently coaches around 150 refugees, both male, and female at the camp, including children as young as six years old.
After the games, Parfait plans to return to the refugee camp where he lives with his one-and-a-half-year-old daughter. © UNHCR/Eugene Sibomana
When conflicts left Parfait injured and his mother killed, he was faced with the difficult task of readjusting to a life of disability.After fleeing to Mahama in 2015, Parfait started a Taekwondo club in the camp, with more than 150 people now. © UNHCR/Eugene Sibomana
Parfait has competed and won gold in a number of Rwandan national and African regional tournaments since 2017. © UNHCR/Eugene Sibomana
Parfait's tale is one of resilience, hope and perseverance. He discovered athletics, specifically Taekwondo, which raised his spirits and rescued him. © UNHCR/Eugene Sibomana
Mariam, 13, belongs to the family of Mahama Taekwondo. 6 months ago she joined the club and now feels that since joining the club her life has improved. © UNHCR/Eugene Sibomana
“It’s a big community and it’s kind of like my Taekwondo family,” he says, adding “I learned that hope may save your life. That is exactly what I am doing today in Mahama: I am helping refugees in restoring hope.”
Parfait is well aware of this, having competed and won gold in a number of Rwandan national and African regional tournaments since 2017. He’s learned that “having hope can improve his life and the lives of others,” and his goal is to win a medal for the people in the refugee camp to celebrate.
His coach believes Parfait can do it.
“Overcoming all the things he has faced, no matter what happens (in Tokyo), he has already won,” she said.
The national Taekwondo Team coach and Parfait’s personal coach to the Paralympics, Zura Mushambokazi says that only love and hope can save lost lives. “What I would like to advise to people like Parfait is not to despair.”
“We are there for you and we love you,” she said. “We are ready to assist you in overcoming your loneliness.”
After the games, Parfait plans to return to the refugee camp where he lives with his one-and-a-half-year-old daughter.
He would love for her to do Taekwondo one day too.
The story of Parfait is like many of other thousands of young refugees hosted in Rwanda. It shows that refugees can rebuild their life, achieve more and shine if they are just given a chance.
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