Genocide Memorial: In Memory of Jean Bosco's Parents
"My name is Nsekuye Jean Bosco. I was born in Kigali in 1990. I am 22 years old and now in S-6 (12th grade). I lived with my brother and sister. We had a housekeeper who cared for us. My mother was a Christian. She was also a singer. My father worked with Rwandex and my mother was a businesswoman. I loved my mother so much. She used to tell me to attend Sunday School and follow up the Word of God. My father was not yet saved, but he loved us so much. We like to go with him to visit our grandmother. I lived with my parents very well.
The problem became a genocide which started in our country when I was four years old. I remembered guns' noise in the night. I cried, but our father opened the door to our room and told us not to worry. In the morning many families escaped. We also escaped with others. We passed through many dead bodies. I was young, but when I think about what I saw, I feel that it was supernatural (like a dream). I saw people kill other people. I praise God because He protected us. We hid in empty houses and schools. One day when my father went to find food for us, they shot him. We waited him until someone came and announced his death to us. I don't know if the dogs ate him or what, I just don't know. We continued to be with our mother and other relatives. We started to ask ourselves how will we live. We saw death in front of us. We always prepared ourselves for death.
One day my mother took my young brother on her back, she wanted to go. I asked her where she was going. She did not want me to go with her. Instead she came back when I started to cry. But when I became asleep she went. Maybe she knew that she was going to die. After a long time I heard a burst like a shot of a heavy gun. After a short time I saw my elder brother came in with our young brother who was in two pieces. Then grandmother explained to us about about how they shot my mother who I loved so much. we continued to escape until we reached the Hotel of 1000 Hills (Hotel Des Mille Colline). Our grandmother said "Let's enter there".
Eighteen years later Jean Bosco is now completing his S-6 grade of school. Being sponsored by Global Capacity for these last two years has helped him tremendously. He is taking Computer Management section and will be working hard in the next trimester in defending his project (thesis). His topic to defend is "Utility and Utilization Using Email". His Global Capacity scholarship helps in the financing of his project and he is very happy. Having all of his needs met for school helps him study harder.
(used with permission to share)
Saturday,
April 7 marks Genocide Memorial Day in Rwanda and kicks off the National Week
of Mourning. It is a difficult week in which the nation remembers the horrific 1994 Genocide when close to 1 million people were killed in
100 days. Most of our students have parents and siblings who are among the
victims and have scars that will last a lifetime, having witnessed unimaginable
accounts of suffering and death. It is our responsibility to help them pick up
the pieces. We want to share a story with you about one of our students, in his
words:
"My name is Nsekuye Jean Bosco. I was born in Kigali in 1990. I am 22 years old and now in S-6 (12th grade). I lived with my brother and sister. We had a housekeeper who cared for us. My mother was a Christian. She was also a singer. My father worked with Rwandex and my mother was a businesswoman. I loved my mother so much. She used to tell me to attend Sunday School and follow up the Word of God. My father was not yet saved, but he loved us so much. We like to go with him to visit our grandmother. I lived with my parents very well.
The problem became a genocide which started in our country when I was four years old. I remembered guns' noise in the night. I cried, but our father opened the door to our room and told us not to worry. In the morning many families escaped. We also escaped with others. We passed through many dead bodies. I was young, but when I think about what I saw, I feel that it was supernatural (like a dream). I saw people kill other people. I praise God because He protected us. We hid in empty houses and schools. One day when my father went to find food for us, they shot him. We waited him until someone came and announced his death to us. I don't know if the dogs ate him or what, I just don't know. We continued to be with our mother and other relatives. We started to ask ourselves how will we live. We saw death in front of us. We always prepared ourselves for death.
One day my mother took my young brother on her back, she wanted to go. I asked her where she was going. She did not want me to go with her. Instead she came back when I started to cry. But when I became asleep she went. Maybe she knew that she was going to die. After a long time I heard a burst like a shot of a heavy gun. After a short time I saw my elder brother came in with our young brother who was in two pieces. Then grandmother explained to us about about how they shot my mother who I loved so much. we continued to escape until we reached the Hotel of 1000 Hills (Hotel Des Mille Colline). Our grandmother said "Let's enter there".
The RPF (Rwanda Patriotic Front) met us there while we lived with the U.N. army. We
continued to live in a very bad condition. To get some food was difficult. We
drank water from a swimming pool. To get fresh water was like to see
God's angel. None of us suffered from cholera. God protected us there. Then the RPF army told us to go back home, that our country is under
control."
Eighteen years later Jean Bosco is now completing his S-6 grade of school. Being sponsored by Global Capacity for these last two years has helped him tremendously. He is taking Computer Management section and will be working hard in the next trimester in defending his project (thesis). His topic to defend is "Utility and Utilization Using Email". His Global Capacity scholarship helps in the financing of his project and he is very happy. Having all of his needs met for school helps him study harder.
He loves his school. They keep them busy with academics and
sports. He is doing well in his studies although he is finding this last year
much more difficult. As Jean Bosco grew from surviving the genocide and the
years after he felt he had no hope. As people like Global Capacity behind him
he is filled with hope as well.
When asked the question "Right now when
you are sitting here, what do you think about hope for your future?" He says to them,
" You wait, someday I will employ you". He has hope and is dreaming
bigger things and trusting God to do great things. Jean Bosco stated "No
one can dream for you, you must strive for it. He is moving forward and
looking towards very good things."
-Yvonne Parr, our partner in Rwanda and co-founder of A Voice For Rwanda
1 comment:
What an amazing and touching story. This young man has such an optimistic spirit. I pray God will bless and reward him.
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