Goodness Irakoze, a 25-year-old mother with gentle strength in her eyes, has spent years holding onto hope. She fled her home in Burundi in 2016, carrying her dreams and a deep yearning for safety and stability as the crisis forced her to seek refuge far from the familiar landscapes of her village in Nyabitsinda, Ruyigi. Now, she lives in a refugee camp, where she’s raising her two young children—Kaneza, an inquisitive 4-year-old, and Blessing, just 10 months old, with an innocence that brings her mother a constant reminder of hope and resilience.

Years in the camp have not been easy, but Goodness is a fighter. She dreams of returning to Burundi, stepping back onto her homeland’s rich soil, and planting crops that will not only feed her family but provide a source of income. Growing up, Goodness learned the rhythms of farming from her own family. She wants that same life for her children—a life with roots in the earth, where they can grow up safely, go to school, and have a future filled with opportunity.

When Goodness returns, her journey will take her to Gisagara in Cankunzo, where her family waits to welcome her back. There, she hopes to build a stable life surrounded by the familiar hills and fields that she’s missed so deeply. Her greatest wish is for Kaneza and Blessing to be educated, to have the opportunities she didn’t have growing up, and to build brighter futures.

AIRD will play a key role in making this homecoming possible, providing Goodness and countless others with safe, dignified transportation back to their homeland. The organization’s commitment means so much to her—it’s not only about the journey back but the promise of support as she transitions from a refugee camp back to her country, ready to rebuild her life. With AIRD’s support, Goodness feels that her return home is not just possible; it’s a promise of a new beginning, one she’s dreamed of for years.