In 2015, when Esta Mondeza was just eight years old, her family fled their home in Gasenyi, in the former province of Cibitoke, due to escalating insecurity.
“We crossed the Kibira forest on foot and used a canoe to get across the river,” her mother recalls.
Although Esta was too young to fully understand, her mother’s stories helped him piece together the journey that changed their lives.
After a brief stay with a family friend, they settled in a refugee camp in the DRC. There, despite the harsh conditions, Esta began his primary education.
“I studied up to sixth grade in the camp. School became my refuge, my hope,” she says.
Esta and her five brothers grew up wondering whether they would ever return to their homeland or remain in a foreign country forever. Her mother, a pillar of strength, kept the dream alive. Around the fire, she would share stories of their past and her vision for the future.
A neighbour once offered Esta a job in nearby villages, suggesting she leave school to earn money. Her mother refused.
“She told me education was my best chance. She believed in me, even when I doubted myself.”
One evening, her mother sat Esta and her siblings down and said, “My children, we’re going back to our country. It’s been my dream for years. We’re registered, let’s prepare to leave.”
The news felt surreal. Their dream was finally becoming reality.
On departure day, the family packed their few belongings. AIRD vehicles waited outside the camp. They were welcomed at a transit center in Gihanga, where they received food, rest, and the assurance that they would soon be reunited with their extended family. Esta barely slept that night, eager to return to Gasenyi, the village of her birth.
The next day, they traveled to Gasenyi.
“Everything felt both familiar and new. It was like being reborn,” she says, describing the emotional moment of reunion with her homeland.
Now back in Gasenyi, Esta is determined to continue her education. With her mother’s unwavering support and example, she feels empowered to pursue her dreams.
“I want to study, succeed, and one day help other children like me. My mother is my role model; she taught me never to give up,” Esta says, adding, I want to thank UNHCR, AIRD, the teachers, drivers, and volunteers who have helped us all these years. Because of you, I’m here today free and full of hope.”