It is unusual for people from other countries to get the real story about genocide in Rwanda, but Vestine Uwingabire volunteered to narrate her own story to me.
Vestine was born on the February 18, 1987. She was living together with her father, mother and brothers and sisters in a real home. The family had wealth including several cattle and they had access to the basic needs of life.
One morning in April 1994, the family was attacked and all their cattle taken away. Vestine’s father and mother tried to defend themselves but ended up murdered and thrown in a valley after which the whole home was totally burnt and destroyed. Vestine and her sisters ran to seek refuge in a nearby church, which was later invaded by the murderers and burnt down. The murderers at that time were keen on slaughtering the women and all the males making Vestine and others lucky to escape.
She narrates
“ one morning all of our houses were burnt down and many of our family members murdered. The killing went on for several days. My grandfather was killed when he tried to hide amongst the banana trees. A few days later they killed my older brother and my grandmother. Mum and dad were murdered somewhere and thrown in the valley.”
Vestine still remembers the names of everyone in her family who was killed. She recalls all the screaming and all the blood she saw on the ground. She has nightmares and finds it difficult to talk about all the terrible things that happened.
She thinks the murderers of her family are hiding in Congo and some of them are in prison in Rwanda.
Vestine completed her secondary school education but did not get the grades needed for a University. She thinks she has no future! Currently Vestine works as a waitress in a small place for selling to people coming to the market and only earns 15,000 FRW(USD 27) per month. Her income is too small to meet her needs and that of her family. Vestine lives together with her elder sister.
Despite Vestine thinking she has a dark future, she hopes to take secretarial courses sometime in her life. Taking this kind of course will squarely depend on getting well-wishers to support her.
Levi and I took time to visit Vestine at home and found her doing the normal chores. She wholeheartedly welcomed us to her home and we liked being there with her!
Alphonce Okuku,
Country Director
Kageno Kenya Trust
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