In Rwanda’s Mahama Camp, Bella Dreams of Education and Change

At just 19 years old, Christa Bella, a Burundian refugee living in Mahama Refugee Camp, is preparing to begin a new chapter in her life as she plans to study entrepreneurial leadership at a university in Mauritius. Yet, her path to this achievement has been marked by hardship, resilience, and determination to rise above the label of “refugee.”

“When violence broke out in my country in 2015, I was only nine,” Bella recalls. “It was a very hard time for me and my family because we suddenly had to flee and become refugees.”

After two months at Gashora Transit Centre, Bella and her family settled in Mahama Camp in Rwanda’s Eastern Province, a place that has since become home to tens of thousands of Burundian refugees.

Challenges in Education

For Bella, education has always been a source of comfort and hope. But adjusting to a new system came with many challenges.

“I really like studying. It’s my comfort place,” she said. “But we were very crowded in class. It was hard to get the teacher’s attention, and shifting from French to English made things even harder.”

As her parents struggled to earn enough for the family’s basic needs, Bella’s dream of education seemed increasingly out of reach. She remembers a time when she almost gave up.

“There was a time when I felt like I was done, like everything was over,” she said. “I dreamed of studying outside the camp, but then I lost the support I needed to attend boarding school.”

Hope Through Support

Just when things seemed bleak, a new opportunity emerged. Through ÉDUFAM (Éducation des filles pour un avenir Meilleur), a project run in partnership with Maison Shalom, Bella received a scholarship that allowed her to continue her studies at a boarding school in Nyagatare District.

“That support changed everything,” she said. “It helped me develop myself and believe again in my dreams.”

Bella’s story mirrors the experiences of thousands of refugee youth around the world, young people facing enormous barriers to education and employment yet holding onto hope for a better future.

“Don’t Forget Us”

Now, as she prepares to leave for university, Bella has a message for leaders and policymakers.

“What we refugee youth need most are opportunities,” she said. “To leaders and decision-makers: don’t forget us. Support us financially, but also connect us to opportunities you can see but we cannot reach. Be our voice and let your voice reach where we cannot.”

She believes education remains the strongest tool refugees have to transform their lives. Quoting Nelson Mandela, she adds, “Education is a powerful weapon that we can use to change the world.”

Gratitude and Determination

Bella expresses deep gratitude to the Rwandan government and humanitarian organizations for enabling refugees to access education and other opportunities.

“I thank all people who value our status and don’t throw us away,” she said. “Thanks to Rwanda’s support, I still have dreams and I can navigate my future with purpose and confidence.”

As Bella looks forward to her studies in Mauritius, she carries a message of resilience and hope, not just for herself but for an entire generation of refugee youth striving to be seen, heard, and given a chance to thrive.