Yassin Nsabimana

I was born in 1985 in Nyamirambo, just outside Kigali. I lived with my parents and younger brother; my father was a driver and my mother was a primary school teacher. I have many happy memories from this time - we used to take family outings to the local sports club, or to visit our relatives and family friends. In 1992, my mother suddenly became sick and died; after that, my grandmother came to live with us.

When the genocide began, I hid with my father, brother, and grandmother in our house. Luckily, the RPF [opposition forces] soon found a way to access people in our area, and brought us to a heavily-guarded secondary school where we took refuge with several other people until the end of the war. After the war, we returned to our former house, and were relieved to find that our immediate family members had also survived the genocide.

Our troubles were not over though: shortly after the war, my father fell ill and died. My grandmother tried to support us, but it was hard for her, and my brother and I often passed days at a time without eating. Eventually my aunt took us in, and she still helps support me today. My uncle agreed to pay my school fees, so I was able to complete my high school diploma in Law and Administration. But it was always my goal to attend university, because I believe that education is the only guarantee you can give yourself of having a better life in the future.

A family friend told me about ORI and the support that they offer to orphaned students. My application and interview were successful, and I proudly began to study law at ULK (Kigali Independent University) in January of 2007. I am also studying English at language school, and when I'm not studying, I enjoy exercise, going dancing, and listening to hip-hop and R&B music.

I intend to work hard at university, and hope to study as far as the Ph.D. level, if possible. Ideally, I would like to work in the court system when I complete my education - I am frustrated with the discrimination that persists in this country, and I chose to study law so that I could help put an end to this injustice. I think about going into politics in the future and becoming a Member of Parliament or a Cabinet Minister. I believe that Rwanda is rapidly progressing, and with more and more of our citizens becoming educated, I think our country's future looks bright.

I would like to tell the donors of ORI that the support they are giving is necessary and very much appreciated. I believe that God will bless them for their efforts, and I thank them greatly.