Those familiar with Africa’s violent history may recall the infamous Rwandan genocide that took place in 1994 in East Africa. The violence enveloped neighbouring Congo (known as Zaire until May 1997), when fleeing Rwandan rebels and refugees invaded Congo and turned it into a deadly battleground. The violence resulted in the loss of some five million lives between 1994 and 2003, and prompted many to flee the violence, starvation and disease brought about by the conflict.
To date, [K] remembers the beginning of the war vividly. “The fighting started in October 1996. The people from Rwanda were killing people and burning houses. I was pregnant at that time”, she says in her halting English. “We had to flee our home in Kivu, to save our lives. Four days after the war had started; I gave birth to my daughter in the forest – out in the open. There was no medicine and nothing to eat.”
But her daughter’s life has changed for the better since they moved to Canada. “My daughter is now in Canada. She is in grade 11 and will be graduating next year, [K] beams happily.
The journey from the conflict ridden Congo to Canada was not an easy one for [K] and her family. Before the war, [K] had a small business importing fabric from Burundi and selling it in Congo. Her husband was a teacher The family fled their home in Congo to escape the fighting. They eventually ended up at refugee camp in Zimbabwe in 2001, where they lived for seven years.
Recalling the living conditions of the refugee camp, [K] says “Life was hard in the camp. Each person was given 2 kg of beans, 10 kg of corn flour and a little bit of salt. This was our food ration for one month. There were water pumps installed in the camps but at times there would be no water. So we had to walk a great distance to dig and get water from the ground. Other times, when the food was finished, people would go out of the camp, walk for an hour and a half to barter clothes for wheat.”
After several applications, to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, over the course of five years, [K]’s family was finally interviewed for resettlement in Canada in May 2009. Speaking about life in Canada, [K] says “Things are different here. There is the weather and dietary changes but I like life in Canada. My children are in school. When we were living in the refugee camp, my children did not have as many opportunities as they have now. I am hopeful that we will be okay. My children are young and can adapt quickly. At my age, it difficult to learn to new things and adapt as quickly they can, but I am happy to be here in Canada.
For [K], adjustment to her new adopted country comes in baby steps. She is currently enrolled in English Language Instruction classes at the Immigrant Women’s Center in Hamilton. [K] is also looking forward to her upcoming volunteer role at the Baywoods Place and being involved with nutrition management activities, at this a senior’s assisted living residence in Hamilton. Her long-term goal is to train and work as Personal Support Worker.
So would [K] ever go to her native country? The question draws a long thoughtful pause.“ I may visit, someday but I would not want to live there”, she says eventually.
“Other than one daughter, who is still in a refugee camp, all my children are here. They have a better future here. They want to live here. I too hope to be a Canadian citizen, one day.”
* Name has been altered to protect the interviewee’s identity
First published at The Women’s Press, a publication of the Immigrant Women’s Centre focusing on refugee and immigrant women
Reba Shahid 