Edson yavukiye muri Angola, hashize igihe gito igihugu kibonye ubwigenge. Yari umuhungu muremure cyane. Yaramenyekanye cyane kubera uburebure bwe. Abantu bahaga abana intwaro ngo bajye mu gisirikare kurwana, bari bakeneye abasore nka Edson.
Edson was born in Angola, just after the country became independent. He was a very tall boy. Because of his height he stood out. The people who were giving weapons to children to fight as soldiers in the civil war wanted boys like him.
Mama we yagize ubwoba ko bashobora kumutwara, maze afata umwanzuro wo kumwohereza kubana na nyirasenge muri Porutigali. Yatekerezaga ko ari ho azaba atekanye.
His mother was afraid they would take him, so she decided to send him to live in Portugal with an aunt. She thought he would be safe there.
Edson akihagera byari bigoye kubera ko yakumburaga ikirere gishyushe, ibiryo by’iwabo, ndetse agakumbura cyane urukundo rwa mama we.
It was very difficult to begin with, as Edson missed the warm weather, the traditional food and, most of all, his mother’s hugs and kisses.
Byaramugoye gukurikirana amasomo no kuganira na bagenzi be kubera ko atari azi igiporutigali neza. Yatangiye kwibaza niba kuza muri Porutigali wari umwanzuro mwiza.
He did not speak Portuguese well and found it very hard to follow his classes and the conversations of his classmates. He wondered if it was a good idea to come to Portugal after all.
Umunsi umwe, mwalimu yabonye ukuntu akina basiketi neza. Yagiye mu ikipe ya basiketi maze aba umukinnyi mwiza cyane. Yamamaye mu kigo hose maze yunguka inshuti. Yarushijeho no kwigirira icyizere.
One day a teacher noticed how good he was at basketball. He joined a basketball team and was very successful. He became popular at school and made friends. He also became more confident.
Aho amariye gukura, ubu Edson atoza abana b’impunzi ndetse n’abandi bari mu kaga ko guhezwa muri sosiyete. Kera uburebure bwe bwamushyize mu kaga ko gushyirwa mu gisirikare akiri umwana, none ubu butuma agira imbaraga agafasha abandi kumva batekanye.
Now that he is an adult, Edson trains refugee children and others at risk of being excluded from society. Once, his height put him in danger of becoming a child soldier. Now, his height gives him strength to help others feel safe.
LIDA Portugal
Sunniva Høiby-Øiset
Abisange Iragena Sandrine
Nkulikimfura Olivier
Kinyarwanda
Level 4
