Laila Uwera

My parents went to secondary school, but they did not complete their studies. I had two brothers, and three sisters. My dad died of cancer when I was a baby, so my mum took care of us. She did everything she could to please us and make us happy. As a child, I liked singing in the choir and watching movies.

My parents left Rwanda during the first genocide in 1959 and 1960 and settled in Uganda. One of my grandmas died in Rwanda at that time, but my other grandparents escaped to Uganda as well. When the genocide started in 1994, we were in Uganda but we still had relatives in Rwanda. Many of my aunties and uncles and cousins were killed, but a few survived.

I came back to Rwanda in 1995 when it was a bit more stable. But there were still people trying to terrorize others, doing things like sending letters saying 'We are going to come and kill you and your family at Christmas.' The army was all over the place, trying to ensure that there was peace.

I started secondary school in Rwanda. My favorite subjects were Math and Chemistry. It was a good school; they really cared for us. I knew that school was important, because without an education, you are of less value in the world. Also, I knew that to get a good job, you needed a good education. Even when I was still in primary school I knew that I wanted to go to university.

Even though I did well in secondary school and my university entrance exams, I did not have the money to attend university. My mum is still alive, but she couldn't afford to help me. With ORI's support, I am now working toward a bachelor's degree in Computer Sciences at Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST). When I finish, I would like to go on to do a Masters, and then a Ph.D., if all goes well. I want to help my country build its capacity in the field of ICT.

At present, there is still a big problem with the education system due to a scarcity of teachers in some subjects, especially the sciences. This leads to failures in the national exams. The health system is still not yet really good either. There are doctors who do not treat their patients very well. They might not be sure of the illness that the patient has, yet they will readily give them the wrong treatment and that sometimes leads to death. The medicine given often has no connection with the disease. Some people, especially in the poorest areas, pretend to be doctors even though they are not qualified, so they can earn money. But the government is working to eliminate them, and tries to inform people about fake doctors.

I would advise other orphans to try their best to do well and to try to make a difference in the world. They must believe that God has something good that He is preparing for them. That's what kept me going. When I was in secondary school, I really didn't know how I would be able to go to university. So I just focused my eyes on God and said 'God, I know you have good plans for me.' And then I found out about the scholarship from Orphans of Rwanda. Children must have faith that the future holds something good for them.