 |
|
| Sophomore shares survival
story of Rwandan childhood |
April
Klaassen
Multicultural Beat |
Jacque Lenz | The Appalachian |
War disrupted her
life and tore her close-knit family apart, but faith in God and
a positive outlook put back together the pieces of Angelique Ugiliwabo’s
life.
Ugiliwabo’s homeland of Rwanda erupted into a civil war in
1994 that took the lives of her parents and three siblings. When
the president’s plane was shot down in Kigali, Rwanda’s
capitol and Ugiliwabo’s home, Hutu extremists, a Rwandan
ethnic group, executed members of their opposing ethnic group,
the Tutsis, in order to annihilate them. One million lives were
lost in 100 days, according to the Rwandan government.
After the president died, the Hutus forced Ugiliwabo and her family
into a refugee camp. When the Hutus were forced out of Rwanda,
the Tutsis took over and sought revenge by massacring Hutus.
Ugiliwabo’s family represented both ethnic
groups. |
“My mom was
a Tutsi and my dad was a Hutu,” said Ugiliwabo. “Each
side was killed by the opposite group. My mom’s side was
killed by the Hutus and my dad’s side was killed by the Tutsis.”
Ugiliwabo remembers the day the Tutsis loaded her father on a
bus with others from the refugee camp.
“They didn’t want other countries to actually see them
committing the crimes, so they would bring a big bus in and take
a bunch of people,” said Ugiliwabo. The Tutsis told Ugiliwabo
and the rest of her family they would come back for them. Since
no one knew the Tutsis were killing people, no one fled.
“We worried because he never came back,” said Ugiliwabo.
The Tutsis returned the next Sunday while Ugiliwabo and her mother
were at church and took more family members.
“They told the camp that they were taking them to where my
dad was,” said Ugiliwabo.
The Tutsis told the neighbors they moved Ugiliwabo’s father
and were offering him a job. They killed him instead.
Ugiliwabo’s sister heard about the killings and warned them
not to go with the Tutsis. However, Ugiliwabo’s mother gave
in while Ugiliwabo dashed out the back door. Her mother, being
a Tutsi, did not believe they would kill her family.
“Tutsis was my mom’s side and she had been through so
much with the Hutus,” said Ugiliwabo.
Ugiliwabo hid behind a building and watched the bus carrying her
mother drive away.
“I don’t know what was going on in my mind,” said
Ugiliwabo. “I don’t even know how it came to my mind
‘when they come, I’m not going to go’ and to think
to just go and watch the whole thing. After, I went back and she
was gone and I realized what really happened.”
Ugiliwabo fled to Kenya three months later, where she reunited
with her two surviving sisters and three surviving brothers.
They immigrated to the United States in March 1995. After living
in Pennsylvania for six months, they moved to High Point and then
later to Thomasville.
After losing her family and moving around, Ugiliwabo said she
found adapting to the United States easy.
“I didn’t know any English at all,” said Ugiliwabo.
“Since I was young, it wasn’t that difficult. There
weren’t that many kids from my country, so I was the only
person who spoke my language at my school, so I had to learn English.
It didn’t take me long to adjust.”
Ugiliwabo, now a sophomore at Appalachian State University, said
her experience matured her.
“I had to take responsibility and take care of myself from
that day,” said Ugiliwabo. “I had my sisters, but it
wasn’t like they were going to parent me or do everything
for me or pay for college. Where as if I had [parents], they would
be taking responsibility. I have to grow up and take care of myself.”
Even though the war disrupted her life, Ugiliwabo said her experience
did not devastate her.
“I didn’t pay much attention to it,” said Ugiliwabo.
“I just moved on.”
Ugiliwabo said she is blessed to come out so strong.
“It didn’t affect me as it affected other people my
age who had to go through stuff,” said Ugiliwabo. “It
didn’t affect me mentally. I know some people from my country
who went through all that stuff … but, it affected them so
bad. Their life is messed up and they go crazy because it’s
too much to handle.”
A strong faith in God helped Ugiliwabo cope.
“I feel like I had God. I’m not on my own,” said
Ugiliwabo. “I think that’s what helped me, just a strong
belief. My mom really installed that in us. It’s not like
we’re religious, it’s a strong belief or faith.”
Ugiliwabo said she misses her parents, but she feels they are
still close.
“I wish I still had parents,” said Ugiliwabo. “They
may not be here, but they’re watching over me.”
Although she experienced great suffering, Ugiliwabo said she does
not feel sorry for herself, nor does she want pity.
“It happened to a lot of people. It’s not like I was
the only one,” said Ugiliwabo.
“I look at it as a part of life, struggles and trials. It’s
life, so I just move on. I don’t want people to feel pity
and I don’t cry around. I don’t want anyone to be like,
‘Oh, we’re sorry this happened to you.’”
Ugiliwabo said she believes her experience made her stronger.
“I learned the responsibility a long time ago,” said
Ugiliwabo. “I’m prepared for life. Not all lot of stuff
affects me easily.”
With a positive outlook on negative situations, Ugiliwabo said
she feels blessed to be alive.
“I’m fortunate to be here,” said Ugiliwabo. “It’s
in God’s hands. It’s all God’s work; I can’t
say it’s me who did it.” |
|
|
 |
 |
