Exile

In this story, Esther learns about the life of her uncle, Deni. He tells her about the identity cards that they used to carry and about how his family fled to Burundi to escape violence. Despite everything that he has been through, he tells his niece that she should always concentrate on doing what is right.

Valgas begins his story by telling his niece, Marlaine, about the first time that he realized that he was a refugee. He describes the hardships that he and his family went through because they were not welcomed in this foreign country. He also encourages her to continue her schooling, because in the past not everyone was given the right to education. He hopes that Marlaine will fight against anything that could cause another genocide, because he does not want Rwandese to be forced to live as refugees again.

Living in exile, Sarah, 15, was obligated to get married to a 28 year-old at the age of 15. She returned home to Rwanda where she was rejected by her in-laws who coerced her husband to abandon her because of her ethnicity. He was to die two weeks before the birth of her son Elias. The only thing that keeps her going is her love for her children and her message to them is one of love, unity and reconciliation.

Vianney snuck out of Rwanda to Burundi by crawling through forest surrounded by an army. He had a plan to join the forces that were fighting the genocide. When he got to Burundi, he forgot this plan and spent his time enjoying the food that had been donated to the refugee camp where he lived. He got his wakeup call when he was visited by a man he would never forget. The legacy he hopes to leave with his brother is that of a nation that rebuilds its cultural institutions and relies on its youth to think like heroes.