THEATRE VERSUS OPPRESSION
Registered Charity SC039092
Using applied theatre to bring about positive change and development

Joseph Munyambanza

In Joseph's Own Words... (Coming Soon)

I am Joseph Munyambanza, an African young boy, Democratic Republic of Congo is my home country. My home was located in the north eastern part of the country, in North Kivu province, Goma town, Rutchuru county. Bunagana trading centre, near Kisoro district of Uganda. I was born in November 1990, in 1996 there was a very serious war breakout in my village, it was our first time to face war, we left home and took refuge into the other villages which are far from the Uganda and Rwanda borders, because we were fearing to that anytime worse things in the border can happen. Since it was the first time. We had hope for stability and that we would go back home. The situation continued and the war advanced in other areas, despite the fact that things were not easy, hunger forced my elder brother and I to go back home and get some food. So we left the parents without permission. We were able to reach our house safely, unfortunately,   as we started the journey to where the parents were, serious noise for bombs and bullets emerged in the direction which we would take.

It become more terrifying, because I was only 6years, not able to run or do any effective way to guide myself, my brother also was not old enough to carry me and run. We so a crowd of people taking the opposite direction to Uganda, we decided to go with them though, none of them would take care of us.

In Uganda we lived for about two weeks, getting food from those who would feel mercy for us and later we got the message that the parents also have reached in Uganda. We could not believe it, but we just went to search for them because the person who told us about the, had said that he saw them on the way carrying their property. In a few days we found them. Though life was not good for all of us, we still felt happy because we found the parents. Some of the people who were with them were killed and my mother’s sister was buried alive, her sister in law who carried a baby, was short dead and the baby survived. We thanked God for saving our parents and us.

We were taken to the temporary refugee camp in Kisoro district and later in 1997, we were brought in the Lorries to Kyangwali Refugee Settlement. However, some people were not able to be go as they were totally stressed after losing many family members. In the refugees camp I started schooling from Primary two, for two years without being promoted because the Education system was different from that of DRC and we did not have teachers from Uganda.  Life in the camp also, grew so unfavourable, Malaria started killing people because of lacking medication, many children died because of lack of food, rainfall without houses, and many other poverty related problems.

The families started breaking down as many husbands resorted to over drinking, as a result, the mistreated teenagers left school and married, for example many girls in my school got married at the age of 13years. My father started taking alcohol so much, my elder brother whom we hope to get help from also started drinking. Unfortunately, the first born had refuse to go to the camp and the eldest girl who was a Christian had got married and so it was a challenge for her to help our mother to take care of us. In 1999, the sister whom I followed was about 14years and so we could go to help mother to work for food very early in the morning before going to school, we were always late because of that.

Though life was hard, we kept in school and because even those who got married hardly stayed with their partner, my sister was ready to stay at home. In class, I always studied with one mind, but with a plan to only finish primary level of Education because, I had no hope for school fees, even I had only one short which was multi-purpose, I mean that I could put it on while at school, at home and at work. I had to love it even if it had to big holes which children used to nickname “torches.”

Unfortunately, in November 2001, the eldest sister who was married died of pregnancy in the Hospital because the nurses refused to work on her as they  wanted to have money from her the husband who would not afford it.  My mother who had family problems because of dad and brother's  alcoholism, and serious working to feed 5 of us in her old age. She was totally troubled when her daughter died, due to this in the following year she suffered from heart pressure, and one of her breasts got sick, she was taken to the hospital where they operated her, and for two years she was one treatment. She was told not to do any work which required a lot of energy and never think too much. More so, she had already grown older and weaker, which increased hard life in the family.

The five of us (children) could always go to the church, though the parents were not Christians. We sometimes got to laugh with others, and felt a change in life and we sing in children choirs, this helped us, some other children in the camp had the same problem as we did. There were others who had even harder situations than us.

In school I had kept the principle of getting high marks, and this usually brought me happiness and motivation. The UNHCR, put the program to sponsor students who could get first grade, from primary four I stopped everything I loved, like football, playing cards and other games which could not help me in future. I put all my focus in books targeting to get a scholarship, in 2003 National Examination, I became the second student in the camp and February 2004, I was to go to Duhaga Senior School. But the scholarship was not to provide everything, I therefore, had to buy mattress, Uniform and other scholastic materials. I bought some, and someone gave the neighbour gave the mattress for his children so that I could us for only one term.

In school, I maintained hardworking, able to be the first 3 times and felt strong and able. In the second holiday for my second year, we got the breaking news that all refugees students who were under the UNHCR scholarship should not go to school until further notice, it was Saturday when this information came and the school was to begin on the coming Monday. I felt so helpless and hopeless, I decided to get my transport and go to school, thinking that the school had not yet know about this information, and maybe I could do my beginning of term tests. On Monday I took a busy to school, I was confused when the Deputy head teacher told me that refugees students were not going to study because UNHCR had said that no more money for school children, I did not have transport to take me back, however, the main problem was not on transport but on what to do next.

I humbly went to the Dean and explained to him, but did not tell him that I don't have transport. I emphasised on my Education, he told me to wait as he wanted to talk to the school administration about me. He said that since I always work had let the school help me. They asked me whether it was possible for me to pay half of the school fees. The answer was “no.”  The head teacher allowed me stay, but that if the school finds it more difficult I would go home next term. I appreciated very much and stayed.

In the same year, a young man called Eric Glustrom from Colorado visited the school to see a student from Kyanwali for whom he had been paying school fees. Eric met me and we had a conversation, he asked me many questions and looked at my school report cards. He promised to buy me textbooks and if possible to pay school fees for me. From then, Eric took care of me and helped other refugees students, because of this he decided to tell more people back home about refugees students in the camp, he formed and organisation know as EDUCATE! With the aim to provide education to refugees' children.

Some of the students in Educate! And those who had managed to study in difficult situations, brought an Idea of making a change in the community, among this visionary were Benson Wereje who had lived with alone at an early age for his whole refugee life, Bahati Marcel who was living with his father only, Daniel Muhwezi who  also lived with his young brother and the father and could manage life by working in tobacco, Aman Jean Paul who lived with father and later the father chased him from home after getting another wife. I was the youngest at this time, but because of passing through hard life I worked with this big boys on this vision. And December 2005, the club known as COBURWAS Educate! Club started. The name stands for different countries as we had refugees from different countries. CO, Congo, B, Burundi, U,Uganda, RWA, Rwanda and S, for Sudan. Our aim is not only in refugees camp, but wherever, we will be able to reach becausese most Africans have problems even non refugees, that is why Ugandans were included.

We found out that the best way to create a change was to bring the youth together, there were many challenges to address, but education seemed to be the most important. We did not have money to pay children’s' school fees. We encouraged those who had dropped out of the school to go back, raised money by digging for people during. Because school we found out that paying school fees for children would not be possible for us due to large number of needy children we decided to buy textbooks which could help many children at ago. The best contribution I had was to start holiday tutoring. Students in the camp did not have quality education and because I was studying from a good school I thought that can at least revise with them. My plan to start the tutoring was motivated by the turn up of children in the club activities.  I approached other friends of mine in the camp whom I knew their talents and trusted their work with me to help our brothers in the lower levels. In 2006 some two best performers in the primary school were among those under tutoring. The school teachers were happy of our contribution and the head teacher gave me the key and chalk to be using in holidays.

Every year we had three holidays, at the end of 2007, more than 30 children passed with good grades first and second. The club was still also going ahead with different activities. We broke a record of managing to have a big number of girls finishing the primary level. In 11 years in the camp we only had on girl who had studied, others could stop before even stepping in primary two. This success was now to produce another challenge which was much bigger and stronger. Helping these children to go ahead become difficult, worse of it many of them were orphans.

The club had already given the post of youth secretary and head of academic department. All of us (club executive committee) sat many times to see whether we could get the solution. Finally, we came up with an idea of calling for a parents meeting in the camp. We told the parents to bring what they could get, some brought food and others raised some money. The club kept on fundraising through digging for people who wanted workers.

In February 2008, we put club money together, some food and looked for a house in town to rent for the children. This money could not be enough but still we felt we must take these children and see what would come next. About 16 girls and 15 boys were taken to study. We first told them about the life they were to live, so they were to be brave and strong in situations of hunger and other difficulties.

In first term, they had many difficulties, but everyone knew earlier about what would happen so no one could cry. We knew it was painful, but at the same time it is part of the community healing!

After a long struggle, we were so happy when the best three in one school were the students we took, and a big number among the best 10. We were so inspired, more so the behaviour of these children has changed, they have learnt to take care for one another. For example, when one is attached by malaria another takes her for treatment. Some of them do not have mattress, and those who have are able to find it easy to share.

I had finished my Senior four 2007, and I had to go to Advanced level. I applied to a school called Cornerstone Leadership Academy in central Uganda. The school include a character development in its curriculum, I passed the interview and passed. In March 2008, I was already at the school. This school mostly, recruits students from underprivileged background. With the experience from the camp doing club activities  I started thinking of what I could do to get more experience with other students whose background is not good. I thought of starting an Entrepreneurship club, the main goal was to get more experience and make other young people like me have ideas on how to start new things. This would help them even when they go their village. I talked to some students a few supported it, I clarified more about what I was thinking and the students joined. We asked the permission from the administration and the principle was happy. The deputy principle became the teacher in charge of this club. We started contributing some money and in the following term we were to buy chicken for rearing/ putting up poultry keeping.

I had applied to African Leadership Academy, during the first holiday I received a message that I have been admitted. This meant that no more going back to Cornerstone Leadership Academy, instead I had to start the process of getting the documents to travel to South Africa in September for ALA. It troubled me because I love to strengthen the new club, but no more time to invest in it.

In second term I went to visit the school and encourage the club members, I felt happy, because they had kept on developing the idea and ready to put in practice.

While working on my travel documents, for more than 2 month I was to stay home when others are at school, It was a new life because I was used to being in school when it was school time. I sat down and thought of how I would spend the time in the camp effectively. One I had to work with the COBURWAS Chairman to organise the work for next holiday, and trying to get a land for the club to have its own crops, then, I thought of volunteering at my old school for 3weeks where some classes have 200 children in one class with one teacher. One week I was to help the youth camp youth coordinate who trains club leaders in the camp. Throughout my free time I was supposed to learn more about the youth out school.

I could meet some in the churches and others at their homes, I found out that girls have much problems than boys. some are having family problems,  some girls got married at early age and even to husbands who are not of their choice because their parents mistreat them after taking alcohol. Worse of if this young innocent girls gets more problems with their young husbands. Other girls produce without husbands .

This  reminded me  of the story from girl who had recently come from DRC, when Benson Wereje and I visited her to get the information about our country, she said that girls and young women are in danger because no government, soldiers do what they want. Some women are raped in front of their children, girls in front of their parents and the public, some female when raped in the absence of people they make it a secret because even if they talk no help. Due to this AIDS has increased in the country and the number of children without parents is high, others because of stress with no solution they committed suicide.

As a future Leader, and a young person who wish to live with people who are happy, who are able to ask for help and help others, I felt much concerned of my community both in the camp and in DRC. I was not able to help in reducing the suffering in DRC, but at least I would say what I thought would be important for my sisters in the community who are to responsible, and respected mothers of the future nations. I used the church leaders to call for girls in the camp for meeting. In July, I met many of them and in August we had started Anti-violence club.

The aim is to empower these girls with self sufficient skills teaching them activities like tailoring, reading and writing. Teach them how to teach others housewives the better ways to live with hard situation. And teach them how to be strong and live positively with troubling parents, prepare for their future husbands and children. I had a very short time in the camp because time to go to African Leadership Academy was soon. With these girls had already got a garden and I worked with then to slash it and they were digging ready to plant the crops in the same month.

Since I was to leave soon, I invited the youth coordinator to meet the girls, she came and I requested her to work with them and get them effective people who would train, also get them more activities to do. We considered COBURWAS our mother Club, and so I told the leaders to help the Chairlady of Anti-violence. The chairlady of the club is one of the girls who came recently running away from the above mentioned sexual abuse. She left the parents and she was supposed to do her last year in high school. She had nothing to do, the only way was to come in the camp, to start a new single life. Though in difficulties, she is determined to tell her information and that of other girls back country to those in the camp.

On 25^th August this year left the camp left all these people whom I love. The people I will travel with to the future transformation. On 1^st, I joined a second family, many speakers who believe that Africa come to talk to us. Most of them had great and inspiring ideas and possibilities in Africa. This week was great, especially on my side. The Guest speaker Dr Jennifer S Hartley one of  Theatre Versus oppression leaders. Their work is help people deal with situations and advance in creating their own positive change in life. I strongly, believe that if my community gets people like Jennifer to talk and empower them more changes will happen. I am sure the suffering in my community and other places with related is not that people are stupid, but at times no one to show them a beginning. It is not easy no matter how wise you may be to get the exact direction or route without anyone to guide you. Communities are like eggs. Even though the egg may be fertilised, if it is not hatched or incubated, it can never give a chick.

This has happened in many parts of the world especially in Africa, we need people who already know where to go and know what do, to come and make life maps for those who are still in dilemma. Even for petroleum, the gas in laboratory need to be ignited before burning. Hoping that Theatre versus oppression is any effective incubator, I humbly request for your help my community needs you

Thank you for your great commitment and dedication to the poor and oppressed one.

Yours Sincerely, 

Joseph Munyambanza.