By Caroline Msula Sakwa | Safe House Program Manager
Ariella is a 16-year old girl from Burundi. She fled her country in January 2016 because of civil war that erupted due to the heavily disputed presidential election. Ariella lived with her parents in Bujumbura city. She was studying in a good school and had just completed her Level 1 of education.
As the war started, things got worsened quickly in Burundi. Killings and blood shed erupted all over the country. Ariella and her family were forced to flee for safety and were quickly separated due to the chaos and swarms of citizens fleeing the country. She found herself alone with no one to turn to and limited resources.
With nowhere else to go, Ariella found her way to a bus and stopped in Nairobi. A good Samaritan, as she describes, helped guide her to the UNHCR to register for asylum. She felt lost, confused, and could not contain her tears as she remembered her family and friends who were lost.
Ariella was referred to the Heshima Kenya Safe House in February 2016. She needed shelter, basic needs, and protection. When she first arrived, she was very ill due to fatigue and physical and emotional distress. She was taken to the hospital by Heshima Kenya workers for support. She was also offered counselling sessions in conjunction with her physical healing to help her heal emotionally and ease her anxiety. Ariella’s physical and emotional health improved quickly and, soon after, her spirit began to shine again at the Safe House.
In July, she joined the photography project that is offered at the Safe House to express herself and tell her story. The project has helped her explore her talent and skills in photo taking. She dreams of becoming a professional photographer, striving to highlight the powerful stories of young girls just like her. When she grows up, she wants to be a counsellor.
Ariella says “When a young girl goes through hardship, all she has is hope and needs to believe in rebuilding her life. This has been my strength throughout. I enjoy photography and telling stories and this has continued to build my self-esteem here at Heshima Kenya!”
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