Upcountry insight: 15 years of life as an orphan

WESTERN PROVINCE Karongi — A lot of effort is put in place to cater for the large number of orphans created by the 1994 Genocide, in which about one million Rwandans died. But 15 years down the road, one can hardly explain away the fact that orphaned children remain orphans. Whenever it’s approaching April, the month in which this disheartening incident happened, apart from remembering our beloved ones who lost their lives, it’s vital to reflect upon the plight of orphans. Whether they have finally accepted their state as orphans, it remains a question worth pondering about. How have those who were orphaned at an early age coped with living all by themselves and adopting the roles of their parents? Children, especially those heading families, have faced tough moments yet they have to move on with life. To some people, the void left by their parents can hardly be filled. Though health insurance [mituelle de sante’] ensures cheap medication for children, feeding needs and an aspect of parental care remain wanting. Children at times need tobe cajoled in order to eat, and when they are sick, they need encouragement and a shoulder to lean on, a nurse who asked not to be named, said of the challenges facing children. I dropped out of school because I had to sacrifice for my little brothers and sisters to stay in school, said 18-year old Oliva Mukeshimana. She is one of the many survivors in her village who forewent school to look after their siblings. Indeed this experience makes their wounds fresh and somewhat feel let down by God. I envy other children with parents, seeing myself forced to take parental responsibilities at this tender age, Mukeshimana says. Imagine the day’s domestic chores, the questions a parent should have been asked about children’s necessities all to a little girl’s mind! It is not only Mukeshimana, but there are many other children even younger than her who have played the parental role because of the Genocide. Most of these vulnerable kids have been settled in community settlements [Midugudus] to make them feel comfortable with the togetherness and unity they get from the rest of their friends with whom they share experiences. I attended technical school and I am looking forward to getting a good job, said Gideon Musafiri. Apart from that, he is the head of Inyenyeri, a settlement for Genocide orphans in Rubengera [Karongi district]. Inyenyeri is one of the settlements that the survivors got through the help of the district. The 22 houses in this settlement accommodate over 44 child survivors enrolled in primary and secondary schools, with a few of them who have made it to university. Other settlements for the survivors are Nyarusazi and Muhororo. Karongi district has about 503 Genocide orphans living in child-headed families with different back grounds, and with different interests. We have given priority to settling these children into homes, explained Emmanuel Tuyisenge, a district official. Being the head of the Fund for Genocide Survivors [FARG], in the area hasn’t been simple for him either. Karongi district has played a major role in aiding these survivors with quality education, basic needs like food though it’s hard to meet every kid’s needs in person, he said. Even if we try helping them, it’s complicated to reach out to every kid in time, Tuyisenge said. Though many things have been done to make them forget, the wounds of the 1994 Genocide are still fresh in these children’s minds. Of course we employ all within our means but we can’t take away the fact that they are orphans and are traumatized, said Bernard Kayumba ,the district Mayor. Cases of trauma are normally reported when the mourning week is draws near. Some of the children fail to go to school during this season because of bitter memories. I end up in hospital during the last weeks of March. I remember the time when my mother was slain to death, explained Mukeshimana. Even during the rainy season I get traumatized when I recall how we used to seek shelter under banana leaves, she continued. On another note, scores of orphans still lack accommodation, however, amidst all the challenges, the children say they are standing firm and directly heading towards Vision 2020. This is evident in the way they have enrolled for education, for instance the highest percentage of the children in the settlements are in secondary schools, while the young ones are in primary. Some of the students have joined the National University of Rwanda -Butare and other universitie. I chose Law because I would love to be more involved in handling my country’s criminal cases, said Kananura Cyriaque. Gacaca courts have assisted us in reconciling with the perpetrators of the Genocide, but I still wonder what magic they use, so I am curious to discover through my course, he explained. Most of these child survivors credit Gacaca for the role it has played in the reconciliation process. Though a host of Genocide criminals have been pardoned, the cases of threats against survivors seem to be on their lowest. Besides, the survivors have also learnt to reserve their comments since Gacaca requires them to be one and unite towards the development of Rwanda. As they wait for the commemoration week to remember their beloved ones, the orphans have a long road to go and many challenges ahead to face. Ends