Jeanette Nyirahabineza

I was born on July 15, 1981 in Gitarama. I am the youngest child of Gervais Munyempama and Agnes Ngendahayo. I had three older brothers and four older sisters. My father owned numerous stores and retail shops, and my family was very well off. When I was 7 years old, I began primary school at Kabgayi primary school, which was run by the Catholic Church.

I was very bright and was always first in my class. My favorite teacher was called ImmaculÈe. I liked her because she was very kind. I still think about her. I used to like to play jump-rope and many other games using balls with my friends. Every Sunday my parents took us to pray at Ruhina church or Kabgayi cathedral.

During the genocide, I lost my parents, my three older brothers and three of my older sisters. Only my older sister, Claudine, and I survived. My uncle Paulin lived near a military camp and was killed along with the rest of my family. Prior to the genocide my family was wealthy. We had three pick-up trucks, two taxis, a minibus, a lorry, two cars, and a motorcycle, but everything was stolen during the genocide - all of our possessions, as well as everything from my parents' businesses. Now my sister and I have to ask for help from donors, but before the genocide my family used to be one of the donors.

After the war there was no one left in Gitarama and no reason for us to stay. My oldest sister Claudine decided to move to Kigali, and I moved with her. She found an apartment in the Nyamirambo neighborhood. I was unable to go to school at first. We needed to work to support ourselves, so I had to wait three years before I was able to start my secondary studies in 1997. I was always first or second in my class.

In 1996, my sister married a journalist, and over the next couple of years, she gave birth to two children. Space grew tight in our apartment in Kigali, and the monetary strain of raising two children on a meager salary was nearly unmanageable. I soon realized that I would never be able to attend college relying on my sister's help. In 2003, I contacted the Centre MÈmorial de Gisimba and was referred to Orphans of Rwanda, who gave me a scholarship to attend university.

I am currently a second year student at the Independent University of Kigali (ULK). I have been doing very well, and passing all my courses. Some of my favorite courses are Theory of Sociology, Sociology of Religion and Sociology of Work. I decided to study sociology because I like to investigate the relationships between different parts of society: how people from different backgrounds interact. I want to become a social worker when I am done with college. I like children, and I would like to help other orphans like myself. Specifically, I would like to be a trauma counselor, and help other orphans learn how to cope with post-traumatic situations.

I liked my life at the Gisimba orphanage. We were like a big family there, with a mama and a papa. It was a nice feeling to have that again. With Orphans of Rwanda's support, I was eventually able to move out of the orphanage. Now I share a house with three of my friends who are also sponsored by ORI. We are a family of 6 girls. We love each other and share our entire lives with each other. I take classes at night and spend all day studying for my classes. When I am not in class I like to cook with my roommates. If I have problems, I know I can come to the staff at ORI to talk. They help me resolve my problems.

To those who have helped fund my college education, and who have given me so much hope for the future, I would like to say, God bless you. I do not know how to thank you. God will have to do it for me.