My

Story

Charmante

“I came to Rwanda from Congo in 1996 when I was six years old and have now lived in the camp for 22 years already. I don’t really remember understanding the reason why we had to flee at the time because I was still so young, but I always hear about it. There was a threat on our lives and that was the reason why we had to leave Congo. I can’t remember well, but what I can remember is that people came to our village and they started to take away our cows and to burn our houses. After that, I saw people running in a group. That is what I can remember. At the time we were fleeing, my mother was working on the farm and my dad was looking after the cows, so I went with my grandfather who took us across the border. We met our parents again in a transit camp in Rwanda. Since then I am living in a camp.

I have never played football myself, but I do love it. I love it because I see it is a very nice game. I didn’t start as a child, but now whenever I see people playing, I am just there because I enjoy the game. That is also why I joined this education. I already have a team of children I always work with. When I am working with children, I find myself feeling like a kid again, which is very, very cool.

Through this programme, I can work with children – there are three groups and I work with them three days a week. Working with them has helped me a lot. I have been in this camp for 22 years now, so when I am playing I can forget some things which have harmed me. I forget the stress around me and even my body functions well again.”