Burundian refugee reflects on the most important gift she’s ever received
Meet Aline
From being homeless to obtaining a law degree, Aline Nizigama has set an example of vehement perseverance for refugees around the world.
Originally from Burundi, Aline spent her childhood doing far from what most people deem ordinary — fleeing from country to country around central and eastern Africa in an attempt to escape permeating violence and war. Despite unrelenting and inhumane obstacles, Aline and her family have overcome tremendous odds, and Aline has since served as an advocate and director for several peace and education organizations in Burundi.
The Nizigama Family Experience
As Aline details in her story published on Global Partnership for Education’s webpage, an unfortunate family parallel was that her own mother and father, too, were refugees. Following the Burundi Civil War of 1972, her parents had no choice but to seek refuge in Tanzania, where Aline was born.
Being that they had to extinguish their studies in Burundi after fleeing, Aline’s mother and father were determined to secure an education in Tanzania. Aline shares that “Thanks to UNHCR’s support, they were enrolled from primary school to college. With the diplomas they received, my father was eventually employed in regional hospital and later on in a private hospital as a medical technician while my mother became a secretary in the office of the Governor of the province of Tabor.” It was through their own experiences that Aline’s parents expressed the value of schooling.
Values Amidst the Chaos
Despite living in a constant state of turmoil and upheaval, Aline’s mother and father made one thing clear to her and her siblings: receiving an education was of the utmost importance.
As of kindergarten, Aline had been forced to flee both to and from Burundi and Tanzania. Nevertheless, throughout this foundational instability, Aline was still able to receive an education, which she expresses she was “privileged to continue even as a refugee in Tanzania.”
Two years later, however, they were uprooted once again, this time to Zaire (current-day Democratic Republic of Congo). Shortly thereafter, they had to flee for the fourth time to escape yet another civil war and were forced to return to Tanzania. However, Aline shares that her “parents did not want my siblings and me to stay in a refugee camp. For them, it was like watching a remake of their own stories.” After saving what scarce income her parents could earn, they managed to survive and found living quarters outside of the refugee camp. However, outside of the camp, Aline was unable to continue her education for two years.
It wasn’t until six years later, in 2002, when Aline and her family returned to Burundi. Aline enrolled in high school and successfully completed her education all the way through the university level. In 2015, Aline earned a Law Degree with a specialization in Affairs and Professional Sciences from Hope Africa University.
As most people in her circumstances would, Aline recognizes how her schooling and accomplishments would have fallen to the wayside and may have even been impossible had her parents not sacrificed all they had for her to receive a proper education. She conveys that her parents “did not relent on providing for my schooling, despite their limited income…They gave of themselves, body and soul, so that I could reach the dream that they had not a chance to reach.”
Now she is proving that her education has not only provided her with a better life, but for others, too. Through her devotion to humanitarianism, Aline has given her self, body, and soul so that young Burundian refugees can strive to reach the dream her parents dreamed.
Aline’s Impact
As a direct result of her education, Aline has spent the past seven years committing herself to making the world a better place, especially for Burundian refugees.
While she was at Hope Africa University, Aline became a member of Burundi’s Rema Ministries, a “non-profit that strives to build peace amongst factionalized groups in conflict and crisis situations.”
She also joined YouthGlobe, another non-profit organization that “aims to rise the next generation of Burundi leaders through education and entrepreneurship,” where she held the position as the Director of Responsible Citizenship in the Department of Education. She held this position for three years. She has also completed training on “Leadership and Pacific Conflicts Resolution” and educated “young people in different communities on leadership and responsible citizenship throughout Burundi.”
Her actions and commitments illustrate how fervently she lives by her father’s words: “I have no wealth to give to you other than education.” However, these words communicate more than the power of education; they express the genuine, tenacious character Aline and her family have held onto despite the circumstances they’ve been forced to endure.
Though Aline is a powerful example of how a person’s education and perseverance can lead to unthinkable success, her story is not only valuable for refugees — it’s a story from which everyone on this planet can learn.
Help young Burundian refugees like Aline obtain an education: please consider donating to UNHCR Refugee Agency.
