The family of Niyoniringiye Celestin, a survivor of the Genocide against the Tutsi, has had their house renovated by a Christian organization, Comfort My People Ministry.
The family consists of ten members: eight children and their two parents, and lives in Karutabana Village, Kagasa Cell, Mwogo Sector, Bugesera District.
The family stated that they had been living in extremely difficult conditions, often spending nights in fear and sometimes forced to remain seated due to the deteriorated state of their home before it was renovated by Comfort My People Ministry.
Ingabire Eugenie, the wife of Niyoniringiye Celestin, explained that two rooms of the house were severely damaged. Whenever rain approached, they would gather in the least damaged section to avoid potential accidents caused by strong winds.
“Whether it was day or night, whenever it rained, we would all gather in that slightly safer part of the house. In short, we lived in constant hardship,” she said.
Ingabire expressed gratitude to God and prayed for blessings upon Comfort My People Ministry, noting that she and her family will now begin living in a decent home and will finally be able to sleep peacefully.
She also affirmed their commitment to maintaining the house and preventing it from falling into disrepair, emphasizing that unlike some who depend entirely on aid, they intend to build on the support they have received.
“There are times when people receive assistance and become dependent, expecting continuous support. That is not our case. We will build on what you have given us and take care of it,” she said.
The leadership of Comfort My People Ministry welcomed the initiative, emphasizing that providing housing for vulnerable individuals is not just about shelter but also a foundational step toward improving overall living conditions.
Pastor Willy Ntayoberwa Rumenera, founder of Comfort My People Ministry, said that having a home provides stability and peace of mind, enabling individuals to pursue livelihoods with confidence, knowing they have a safe place to return to.
“This is the first step; you now have a place to live, a foundation to build from. You can work to earn a living, knowing you have somewhere to return and rest. Without a home, everything becomes a struggle,” he said.
Pastor Willy also emphasized the importance of forgiveness, particularly for those who suffered during the Genocide against the Tutsi, including betrayal by individuals and the former government.
“These are people who were betrayed by those they knew and by a bad government at the time. They must forgive those individuals, forgive the country, love their nation, and love others. When we forgive, God blesses us and others as well,” he said.
Biziyaremye Chrisostome, the Good Governance Officer in Mwogo Sector, expressed appreciation for Comfort My People Ministry as a development partner for supporting a genocide survivor in securing a decent home for his family.
“As local authorities, we appreciate Comfort My People as a non-profit organization for providing this house to Niyoniringiye Celestin. He is a genocide survivor with a family of ten and previously had no proper shelter. This is a commendable act,” he said.
He added that the organization has been a valuable partner in Mwogo Sector, contributing to meaningful development initiatives that improve the welfare of residents.
“When partners like these carry out development activities that uplift citizens, it is both commendable and encouraging,” he said.
Comfort My People Ministry is an organization that supports vulnerable individuals, including genocide survivors, and has so far transformed so many lives of vulnerables across different districts in Rwanda.
Gabriel UZABAKIRIHO / KIGALI TIMES