Ndayisenga, Matthew
- Born: November 24, 1987
- Country: DR Congo
- Family: Separated from father and several brothers during war, mother deceased, currently lives close to several younger brothers
- Grade: primary
- Work: Because of health can not dig (farm), begs, scavenges, at one time he had hair clippers and earned money cutting hair
Edited email(s):
My name is Ndayisenga Matthew, a male Congolese refugee. I am the fourth born in our large family, which is made up of 8 members. I came from the northern part of DR Congo, the former Zaire. In 1997 we had to leave our country due to political instability and much killing. I was ten years old when we ran with my father, mother and the rest of my family members, but we ended up being separated due to heavy bombing and murdering of innocent people.
One time I escaped with a group of people who were forced into a house and then bombed. From that time, I was separated from my father and some brothers. I don't know if they are dead or alive. Briefly, I escaped and crossed the border to Uganda where the United Nations organized transport for us to the Kyangwali Refugee Camp, where I have remained and continue to suffer.
When we arrived at this place, we were treated as orphans. The authorities provided porridge for us because we had many diseases and anemia. We started schooling. A few years back, the United Nations started a policy of being self-reliant and gave everybody a hoe and a garden in order to raise and sell food to meet our needs.
Due to the poor life; malnutrition and diseases, I got polio. Since the UN left us, I have had many problems. I can't move easily with this stick of mine; I can't raise food; I can't pay for treatment or build a shelter for myself. Many people laugh at me due to my crippled leg and I feel like a misfit.
I have been getting food by begging at churches on Sundays and am helped by COBURWAS, which has limited funds to support all the needy people in the camp. One time I got a little help from COBURWAS and bought clippers to cut hair in the village. Cutting the hair of one person gives me 300 Ugandan shillings. Sometimes I spend the whole day and cut the hair of only 3 or 4 people. This is little money, not even half of a US dollar. Another means I use to get food is gathering vegetables that have not been sold. They dominate my meals throughout the year.
So, I lack both a father and mother. My mother died in 1999 in Kyangwali because we ran when she was pregnant. She died in Hoima Hospital due to malnutrition and poor and delayed treatment. I am a social outcast and small kids laugh at me. I don't have the means to go to school. I always fear being caught by malaria and think I will die like my mother.
I thank Maria from the U.S. for supporting my education so that education can become the leg for my locomotion.
Thanks, Matthew