Deogratias Nzaramyimana

I was born on March 16, 1987 in the Northern Province of Rwanda. I am the second-youngest in a large family of eight children. My parents were cultivators, and we lived in a simple house in a small village named Kagihuri. There were seven boys and only one girl in our family! Unfortunately, one of my brothers died before I was born. We all used to play football and sing gospel songs together. I used to enjoy visiting my godfather during the school holidays but he moved to the Congo in 1994 (during the genocide) and we still do not know if he is alive.

I began my studies in Congo. In 1996, we rejoined our country and I continued my studies at primary school. I did not have to pay school fees because I studied at SOS Children's Village, where I received a scholarship. When I later started secondary school at a seminary, my family struggled to pay the fees. Before I got sponsors to pay my school fees, I did not do well at school. Even though I went to school, I was sent home because my family was not able to pay the fees. I used to spend up to two weeks at a time away from my classes.When I reached Senior Four, I got sponsorship from SOS Children's Village in Byumba.

From Senior Four to Senior Six, I studied Latin and modern languages.I chose this subject because I liked languages and reading since childhood. I studied Latin, French, English, Swahili and Kinyarwanda. I did not find my classes difficult, and I ranked first in my class. I received the best marks in my school on the final National Examination. At school, I was also involved in music. I especially liked reggae music; I admired the reggae musician Lucky Dube and was always listening to his music. I liked his message of brotherhood and peace.

After pursing an education in journalism, I want to work as a journalist and musician and promote a more peaceful society by spreading ideas of equality, freedom, and brotherhood. My mouth will speak for those who are not able to speak and my eyes will see for the blind, and we will change the history of our society.