[ Greeting with HUMAN IN LOVE’s Rwandan scholarship student Philemon ]
휴먼인러브는 지난 3월부터 4월까지 르완다 부게세라 니아마타 지역의 비하리 초등학교, 카나지 초등학교 학생 400명에게 교복을 지원했습니다! 드디어 새 교복을 받는 날, 설레고 즐거워하는 아이들을 보며 휴먼인러브도 무척이나 행복했는데요. 한 벌에 약 7,500원인 이 교복은 아이들에게 어떤 의미인걸까요?
Q1. Hi, Philemon. Please introduce yourself to HIL supporters.
Hello! HIL supporters! I’m Philemon Nkundumukiza, living in Rweru, Rwanda. I’m 22 years old and met HUMAN IN LOVE when I was in high school. Thanks to HIL, I entered National University of Rwanda, majoring in geography and studying very hard.
Q2. Would you tell me how you lived before you became a HIL scholarship student?
First of all, I really want to thank HIL supporters. I could go through all of the difficulties when I couldn’t study at all, all because of HUMAN IN LOVE.
My family was poor, so we couldn’t get things necessary for school, such as tuition, textbooks, learning materials, uniform and school supplies. I have 11 family members including my parents and nine siblings, and we grew crops but not enough to feed ourselves. Since I fully knew this situation, I couldn’t tell them I want to go school and study. But I desperately wanted to get at least primary education, and one day I was selected as one of the middle and high school HIL scholarship students and able to go to school after getting tuition, books and school supplies.
And I took a graduation test (which is like Korea’ college entrance exam) and something miraculous happened. I got a remarkable score although I was going to a school which provided relatively lower level of education than a national boarding school. Oh. I exactly remember that moment. I got a score good enough to go to any university and study any major that I wanted, but me and my parents couldn’t say anything about it because we couldn’t afford it.
At that time, HUMAN IN LOVE promised to support me so that I can go to university. I almost felt like fainting because it was an unbelievably amazing news to me and my family. All of my relatives visited and congratulated us. I cannot stop talking about how thankful I am to HIL scholarship. It is undeniably the most precious gift that I’ve ever had on earth. Scholarship provided by the Rwandan government is like a loan that I must pay off, and there is actually no scholarship system. I study harder and harder, thinking of HUMAN IN LOVE which brought me a bright future and trying not to let it down.
Q3. What has changed in your life after getting HIL support?
Before getting to know HUMAN IN LOVE, I thought only rich kids can go to school. I had no hope and no goal. I just lived roughly without a plan for tomorrow. But I changed after getting support from HUMAN IN LOVE. I tell people that you need to make more efforts for a better future.
My neighborhood is especially less developed in Rwanda, and most neighbors are living a very poor life. So it is very rare, surprising and inspiring to my neighbors that I got admitted to a national university, which is the best university in Rwanda.
Q4. How are you these days?
I felt lost for a while because my mother got sick from two years ago. I missed some classes and got bad scores because I was taking care of my mom. But I tried to pull myself together after I got to know that HIL Rwandan branch manager, staff and many HIL members from Korea are giving me huge support. This year I had to take advanced classes which are more difficult to learn, but I’m studying hard and getting good scores. I feel sad when I’m thinking about my mom, but I’m trying to pull myself together.
[ Philemon is a HIL scholarship student, majoring in geography in National University of Rwanda]
Q5. What are your dream and goal?
I want to be a passionate and capable person who can contribute to his community. Since I’m majoring in geography, I want to become an expert in the geographic information system. Rwanda needs geographic information and related software programs. I want to contribute to building a better system which helps housing, urban planning, local development planning and land research.
[ Philemon is posing at a classroom of National University of Rwanda]
Q6. Do you have any words to say to HIL supports?
HIL supports. I appreciate all of your support and good will to give me an opportunity to learn. You are the most precious people who have supported me to look further and think deeper.
I don’t know how to thank you enough. I wish I can deliver my thanks to you again and God be with you in everything you do. Thank you.
