After the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Delphine Ingabire a survivor, says she faced a very difficult and challenging life. Everything was so dark and new to her, as she recalls; she had lost her home, family and the life she knew
At some point she had to live in an orphanage but what kept her going through all of that was the need to make her mother proud. If anything, she wanted to live for her mother’s memory (who was also killed in the genocide), so much, that she vowed to use her pain as a way to reach out to others who are suffering.
For this reason, Ingabire, a humanitarian activist, established Igire foundation- with a mission to empower women survivors of the genocide through modern agro business skill-building and micro credit finance.
Her work has impacted lives of 40 families.
Her objective was to promote and strengthen poor women’s economic development through innovative modern agro-business skills development, and income-generating activities to improve living conditions. She believes farming is a profession of hope, and hope is what is at the core of her work.
"Our vision is to break the cycle of poverty among women and empower them to take lead to impact their society, home, business, and promote avenues that give them a voice in society,” Ingabire says.
As a survivor, she says it has been her dream to contribute and give back to her country especially to the community that she was raised in. During the pandemic, she took it upon herself to distribute food to vulnerable households and also donate face masks to some schools in the Northern Province.
Her organisation has impacted lives of over 40 families, however her plan is to continue catering for over 150 families. She hopes to continue empowering these women through modern agriculture,
"For that, I have a partner with whom we are thinking of how we can accelerate this. I want them to focus on strawberries. As a market researcher, I also have a plan to help those women find a market either in Rwanda or in the neighbouring countries or in Europe,” she says.
She was able to donate masks to students during the pandemic.
Her main goal is to see these women be a part of changing their lives, their children, families and that of their country.
"When a woman is empowered, her home is empowered. She has the power to make a change in her home, to impact her whole community. With this, great things can happen in society. Women need to understand that they can also seat at the table where decisions are taken.”
The bright side
When Ingabire survived the genocide, she promised herself to make a difference in the world in any possible way she could.
Having fulfilled this promise, she says it makes her feel alive, happy and accomplished. "I also feel impacted, it makes me feel a complete human being, also grateful to God that he gave me the ability to make it.
I believe every little thing makes a difference. Hence, I promised myself to never leave this world the way I found it. On this journey, I have met people who needed more than I did, who suffered more than I did, this is when I chose to focus on the positive side and to choose to help others,” she says.
"If my life allows it, I will continue to helping and reaching out to those who need help. Finally, as I said I love to help others. I always got pleasure by putting a smile on other people faces and I believe I got it from my late mother. My mother was a very nice person, I want to represent and make her proud. I also want my kids to learn from me and always strive to make the world a better place to live in,” she adds.
Ingabire now lives in Netherlands where she works in the private sector- connecting businesses from there with those in Africa and vice versa. In the Netherlands, she also does humanitarian work through her membership with JCI (Junior chamber international).
"We are young active citizens all over the world. Living, communicating, acting, and creating impact in our communities. Through JCI I contribute to my society visiting and helping sick people in hospitals. We also fundraise for other organisations which contribute to the community.”
Furthermore she happened to meet the late Kofi Annan (Former Secretary General of the United Nations) during the JCI World congress in 2018, whereby she got a chance to ask him why the UN never intervened to stop the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
"He said that the UN didn't have support from the EU, African, American countries to assist Rwanda. As we were analysing this with a friend of mine, we both came to a conclusion that the UN is nothing other than a puppet for the P5 (US, UK, France, Russia, and China).
Whatever they want, the UN executes their orders, since Russia and China do not like to be involved in political matches around the world. In 1994, The UN was a puppet for US, UK, and France. The US and UK made it clear that they had no interests to pursue in Rwanda. That leaves us with the French whose hands are bloody-dirty in this genocide. The UN was working on behalf of France’s interests in Rwanda.”
Message of courage
For survivors and other people facing traumatic experiences, Ingabire says it’s crucial to understand that whereas a lot of advice can be offered, it’s important to consider that at the end of the day people are different.
"How I deal with my pain, isn’t the way you can deal with it. But prayers help, talk to someone you trust, cry but try to find something which can help you find your happiness again. Visit a psychologist if need be and do your best to contribute to your society.”