Author and Activist Exemplifies Strength, Resilience, and Hope
“I love my home—it’s the reason I tell my story,” explained author and activist Sandra Uwiringiyimana, before recounting a complex account of suppression, hate, and apathy to a riveted audience of Middle and Upper School students in late February.
Uwiringiyimana’s book, How Dare the Sun Rise: Memoirs of a War Child, tells her story as a refugee and an advocate for change through education, awareness, and hope. Her talk was especially meaningful for those Upper School students who had read her book in either Modern Challenges or Marginalized Voices (Upper School elective English classes). For those unfamiliar with Uwiringiyimana’s work, her visit provided a unique opportunity to engage with complicated world issues.
“We want to build more empathy in our students by exposing them to other perspectives and addressing world issues that need our help,” said Upper School English Department Chair Katie McDonald (C’05). “We recognize that Sandra’s story is very real, very traumatic. However, we have a lot to learn from each other, and Sandra beautifully demonstrates how we can proactively embrace difficult issues with hope.”
Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uwiringiyimana is part of the Banyamulenge tribe, which has been discriminated against for years because it originated in Rwanda. Though her parents worked diligently to shield her and her siblings from Congo’s civil strife, the suppression of girls’ education, and the unfounded hatred toward her people, the family was forced to flee the country in 2004, when Uwiringiyimana was 10 years old. She told how her family was ambushed, robbed, and beaten as they escaped their hometown of Uvira en route to a refugee camp in Rwanda.
“People don’t have to have a reason to hate if they see hate,” said Uwiringiyimana. “You can’t tell me that six-year-old knew why he was throwing rocks at us.”
Uwiringiyimana went on to explain that refugee camps are a far cry from a place of protection. With little if any infrastructure and very limited resources, they are rife with misconduct, abuse, rape, and hate, she noted. Refugees without other options live an average of 20 years in these camps.
“I wasn’t there nearly that long,” said Uwiringiyimana, before telling of the massacre in the middle of the night that killed 166 men, women, and children, including her younger sister.
After narrowly escaping the massacre, the remaining members of her family underwent the difficult process of immigrating to the United States. They settled in Rochester, New York, where she was thrown into American life while still processing the horrors her family had endured. In 2017, Uwiringiyimana wrote her memoir to enlighten others, give a voice to her people, and spread hope.
When the presentation opened for questions, Upper School senior Alberto Montero asked, “You show so much joy, you’re beaming. How do you tell this story without breaking down?”
“I think my joy comes from sharing my story and helping others see the world differently,” Uwiringiyimana responded. “We need more people in the world saying it’s okay to be different, to stand up to hate.”
In addition to her address in Ridgway Auditorium, Uwiringiyimana spent time with the Modern Challenges and English Language Learner History classes, enjoyed lunch with more than 25 Upper School students in the Social Center, met with the kindergarten class (which was in the middle of a unit on world cultures), and had dinner with Principia’s International Club at a local Ugandan restaurant.
According to International Student Program Director Michelle Bland (C’98), the opportunity for students to visit with Uwiringiyimana was incredibly impactful—especially for students from Africa who could relate to cultural and power struggles in their own countries and to adjusting to life in America. “For Sandra to come tell her story had such power,” said Bland. “. . . They connected with her in a way that only they could—and were truly inspired.”
“Having dinner with Sandra was incredible,” said Upper School senior Ure Okike. We had so much fun talking, laughing, and connecting. It was like being reunited with an old friend. After all she had been through—things I can only imagine, horrors that should not have happened—she has the strength to go on. She has inspired me to do more, give more. My takeaway: I’m not going to let the world steal my joy!”