Chantal Marie Byukusenge
& Marie Rose Kayitesi

Rose and Chantal were born in Gitarama, the first and third children of Fabien Rutebuka and Josephine Mukandamage. In 1986 their father, who was a mechanic, found work in Kigali, and the entire family moved to a nearby town. In 1994 their father and several of their siblings were murdered by the Interahamwe [the Hutu paramilitary squads that led the genocidal killing].

Despite frequent pillaging, the family home survived the war intact, and after the 100 days of genocide finally concluded, Rose and Chantal moved back in with their mother, their middle sister Consolée, and their three younger brothers. Tragically, their mother fell ill soon after the conclusion of the fighting, and passed away from malaria the following February.

Chantal has always loved her studies. "In high school I studied education. I love children. I like to play with them and support them. They make me laugh. In college I decided to study sociology, because I want to help understand Rwandan society, and also how people behave in general. The population of Rwanda lives in very different socio-economic categories: the very rich and the very poor. I want to understand how this came to be, and how we can work to better the situation."

Despite some outside support, the meager earnings that Chantal and her sisters earned could not maintain their parents' house and they were obliged to sell it. Her three younger brothers moved to the Centre Memorial de Gisimba, where they live today. The three sisters started boarding school in 1996.

Although both girls earned their high school diplomas neither was able to find work. By then the orphanage was overcrowded and the three girls lived in the streets of Kigali for an entire year. In 2003, Rose at last found a job as a social worker, and with her income the three sisters were able to secure a small apartment.

Despite the challenges they faced, Consolée scored extremely well on the college entrance exam, and received a full scholarship to study at university in Kigali. Although both Rose, who held down a full time job while simultaneously running a household, and Chantal did well on the entrance exam, they were not fortunate enough to win government scholarships. They had given up hope of attending college until the director of the Centre Mémorial de Gisimba connected them with the support offered by Orphans of Rwanda.

Though they have managed to locate a home beyond the walls of the orphanage, life is still quite difficult for Rose and Chantal. Rose works much of the day, and studies during the evening. "I do not make enough money to pay the rent consistently and put food on the table every day. Sometimes we can barely pay the rent and we fear we will be on the street again." Chantal is actively seeking work, but has not been able to secure any steady employment. Orphans of Rwanda has begun helping Chantal and Marie Rose cover some of their basic living costs so that they can focus on achieving success in school. Despite the obstacles they still confront, the two young women have hope for the future. As Chantal stressed: "I would like to like to thank those of you who are helping me from the bottom of my heart. Before you decided to support me, I couldn't afford to continue studying, but you found me a university and changed my life. I was so grateful and overjoyed to start studying, and that's why I thank you from the bottom of my heart."

Rose is in her first year of Management, while Chantal is completing her first year of Sociology at the Université Libre de Kigali. When her studies are complete, Chantal dreams of founding an organization that would take care of orphans.