Refugees – Congolese and Rwandan
On the way from Kigali, our hosts shared with us the challenge Rwanda faces with the numerous refugees entering the Byumba area from the Congo. The government is trying to first teach the refugees skills to enable them to become viable participants of the nation. On the other hand, the church is spearheading the government’s efforts to lure the Rwandan refugees from the forests in the Congo, where they have been hiding since the Genocide 17 years ago. (Two bordering countries with refugees from each other’s country!) There are thousands of Rwandans too scared to come back.
The Ngendahayo family has taken in several young people over the years (who either were born in the forests or who had witnessed the genocide), teaching them how to adjust to a civilized life style. We met their latest arrival, John Bosco. The mother ventured out and left Bosco with Bishop Emanuel three weeks ago. She then returned to the forest to try to convince family members that it is safe to return to Rwanda.
Bosco has to learn how to eat at a table with utensils, wear shoes, bath, brush teeth…all the things we take for granted, but which he wasn’t able to learn or experience growing up in the forest as a refugee. Celeste spends time with him to teach him some basic English and math before he attempts school in a few months. At age eleven, he looks more like seven or eight, but is eager to learn and is very bright.
