On April 24, 2016, Marguerite Barankitse of Maison Shalom and REMA Hospital in Burundi was named the inaugural Laureate of the $1million Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity. At the ceremony held in Yerevan, Armenia, Barankitse was recognised for her extraordinary hand in saving thousands of lives and caring for orphans and refugees during years of civil unrest in Burundi.

Having rescued over 30,000 orphaned children during the civil war in Burundi in 1993, Marguerite is living proof of change that one individual can make for thousands. Women Today’s Sharon Kantengwa spoke to the Burundian humanitarian about her passion to help the needy.

Excerpts;

What was it like before your humanitarian work?

I was born in Ruyigi, Burundi in 1957 but I lost my father at a young age. I grew up under the care of my mother who taught me the importance of loving our neighbours and brotherhood. I did three years of seminary studies in Lourdes, France. I later on went to study administration in Switzerland in the late 1980s before returning to Ruyigi, where I was hired by the diocese as the secretary, a position I held until October 1993 during the war.

What does your organisation do exactly?

Maison Shalom means ‘house of peace’ and it aims at protecting and promoting children’s rights so as to create a new generation that is violence free. We started in 1993 in Burundi at a time when the number of orphans was steadily increasing. The diocese of Ruyigi allowed me to use some of its buildings, a partnership that lasted until 2001 because I had to open up other centres outside Ruyigi. Maison Shalom has been in Rwanda since September last year, and we provide education and economic support to orphans and other vulnerable children. The languages may differ but the message of peace remains the same.

REMA Hospital in Burundi is also managed by Maison Shalom. It plays a crucial part at the heart of the health system as it admits numerous patients not only from Ruyigi province, but also from other provinces in East-central Burundi. In Kirundi, the word ‘rema’ expresses support, comfort and sympathy for a person with difficulties.

What has Maison Shalom achieved here in Rwanda?

We have 137 young Burundian refugees in Rwandan boarding schools and 150 young refugees in vocational training. We also teach the Burundian culture to the refugees. I believe that losing your culture is losing your identity.

What did the Aurora Prize Award mean to you?

The Aurora Prize was inspired by the Armenian Genocide and this money was given to me to help send children back to school. I was so sad and discouraged because I lived in humiliation as a refugee. There was always negative talk about Burundi but I was happy that for the first time after one year, something good could be said about Burundi. It was a calling from God because I was humiliated and the president of Burundi took all our money and I had nothing left to take the children I take care of to school. I had nothing for the children that I take care of but I had love and God answered my prayers. This award is an opportunity for me to fulfil my mission.

Where do you derive your passion?

I started it because I was angry that they’d killed 72 people in front of me and also lost 62 people in my family in October 1993 during the civil unrest in Burundi some of whom were children. I am a mother and a Christian and I realised that I can raise a new generation, and be able to break the cycle of violence. I began with 25 orphans on the street and I did this to bring a message to the world that we can live together as brothers and sisters and I wanted to show everybody that despite our tribal differences as a challenge in Burundi, we can live together after the atrocities. Shalom Maison was born among those atrocities to be a little candle in the darkness. When you have the values of compassion, nothing can stop you.

What are some of the challenges that you face?

The only challenge we are facing is the education system here, as it is different from that of Burundi. My children are challenged by English speaking because the education system here is different but that will be overcome with time. Otherwise, we are working with many government institutions here in Rwanda to ensure that our mission is accomplished. We have hope that one day we shall return to our home country in triumph.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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PROFILE

Name: Marguerite Barankitse

Age: 59

Profession: Teacher

Awards: Prize for Conflict Prevention, (November 2011), Aurora Prize (April 2016), UNESCO prize (2008)

Message: We have a continuing mission to love.