Experiencing the Gospel’s force in the refugee camp

At the conclusion of United World Week 2005 last October, the youth participants from different parts of the world took part in a telephone conference call, where two Tanzanian teen-agers shared their experience. After having fled from Burundi at the outbreak of the war, while living as refugees in a camp in the Kigoma region, they bore witness to the strength that comes from unity and from sticking to one’s Christian convictions. Together with others they thus brought a ray of hope into the refugee camp. They were both able to leave the refugee camp, thanks to a scholarship they received from Project Africa, and are now studying journalism.

“I was living at home with my whole family when civil war broke out in Burundi, in 1993,” said R.. “I was then a kid and the Gospel I tried to put into practice had always been my source of strength in continuing to love in such a climate of hatred and violence. I went on loving everyone, even our ‘enemies,’ certain that good always wins out over evil. One day, I remember, together with my family, I helped some children who belonged to another tribe. In the situation we were in, I could have considered them as my enemies. Instead, we were able to save them even at the risk of our own lives.

“In 1996, the situation worsened. At my school violence reigned and I, too, became a victim of torture. Even in the midst of this painful situation I prayed to God to give me the strength to forgive and to help those who had harmed me to change their life. Since my life was in serious danger, I was forced to escape to one of the refugee camps in the Kigoma region of Tanzania, where I lived for 9 years.”

“Life in the refugee camp was not easy,” continued K. “We had to face serious difficulties: lack of a home, lack of food and clothing… But in all this, our personal choice to live as Christians has always helped us make of every difficulty a springboard and transform it into love.
“We were 42 committed Youth for a United World in the camp. This year we were able to build two huts with mud and hay for two elderly refugees who had nowhere to live. We also went to two high schools in the camp to share with the other youth our experiences of putting the Gospel into practice. Through the help of many young people from all over the world who are committed to Project Africa, we organized some small businesses, for selling of cassava starch, sweet corn flour, palm oil, and so on.
“Some weeks ago, we received a gift through Project Africa we never expected: we were able to leave the refugee camp to go to Tanzania, and thanks to two scholarships, we can now start a course in the Faculty of Journalism.
“We can feel your concrete love and solidarity. Thank you for your prayers for our country. We feel we are part of one big family with all of you.”

R. and K. – Tanzania