Genocide survival

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.

Manzi wants to tell his foster sister-cousin, Marie, the story of his survival during the 1994 genocide, and the fate of their extended family. She listens to details of his extraordinary story of his many escapes from death, and the horrors he witnessed as a young boy. The story describes how his parents’ mixed marriage saved him, plus the outreach from persons of both Hutu and Twa backgrounds. Even cows were his salvation one awful day; another time he was only survivor of a bomb blast that killed over 100.

Stories For Hope created a forum for elders to inspire the youth; at least that’s what Judith and Nadia expected when they accepted to share their story. In this story however, the roles astonishingly reverse as an elder finds encouragement and inspiration from her niece and adopted child who tries to point out how children now play together in Rwanda, even as their own parents were once enemies.

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.

After being orphaned by the genocide, Amandine risked going to school without supplies, and was befriended. Friends, and her faith enabled her to combat drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. This led to a working life, a home, and a resolve to help other orphans like herself who almost lost all hope.

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.