My Refugee Journey,
My name is Angelique and I would like to tell you a little bit about my journey to the United States as a refugee. I was born in Rwanda and in 1994 I survived the Rwandan genocide. I am second generation after my parents to have experience fleeting a war and move to another country to seek refuge. My parents fled from Burundi to Rwanda in 1970 because there were being persecuted in Burundi. My siblings and I were born in Rwanda. Rwanda was a peaceful country until in 1994 the genocide happened. I was five years old. My family and I fled to the neighboring country Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where my family and I lived in refugee camps until 1996. In 1996, a Civil War broke out in DRC where we were living. This Civil War killed many people including members of my family and friends. By the grace of God some of my family members and I survived the Civil War and migrated to Burundi. When we got to Burundi In 1996, Burundi was also going through an endless Civil War that killed thousands. We were not safe in Burundi and my family and I decided to flee and seek refuge in Tanzania refugee camps. In Tanzania, we lived there from 1996-1998 and fled to Zambia. We fled to Zambia because our family house we lived in the camp got burned down by someone we did not know. My family and I stayed in Zambia from 1998-2000 where we were grated a refugee status by UNHCR to come to America in 2000. I was 11years old when I immigrated to America with my siblings.
Throughout these atrocities that happened in my life, I came close to death many times. I lost my parents, siblings, uncles, cousins and friends.
May their souls rest in peace.
Coming to America I have experienced many challenges but I managed to overcome them. I graduated college with a bachelor degree in sociology and have worked with refugees and immigrants for about 7years. I have gained two advanced degrees from Grand Valley State Universities. I have a masters of public administration and another masters of social work. I hold a limited license in social work and I am practicing therapy.
My life and professional experiences have led me to be passionate about refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants mental Health. This population experience many advertises when setting in this country. By understanding their experiences then we can learn how to walk with that individual or family to heal.
Please email or call me if you would like to have a conversation about refugees, asylum seekers and immigrate mental health.
Thank you,
