From Rwanda to Albany

How does a victim of terror in Rwanda end up in Albany? The answer is as simple as a line of people.

Eugenie Mukeshimana was standing in line at a phone company in Kigali, Rwanda, when she met Wendy Cue, a United Nations human rights worker who is originally from Colonie. Ms. Cue befriended her and forwarded her story to some friends who she thought might be able to assist. Eventually, the story reached Marggie Skinner, a member of St. Vincent de Paul parish in Albany who heads the Council of Albany Neighborhood Associations.

Ms. Skinner and some friends went to work on Ms. Mukeshimana's behalf, advocating for her to get a visa, and offering her and her daughter housing at Ms. Skinner's residence.

At the same time, Ms. Mukeshimana was beginning to look for a foreign social work program that would allow her to return to Rwanda to assist genocide survivors like her, who still faced memories of murder, rape and other horrors. In Rwanda, she noted, survivors and social workers don't have the background or training to give proper treatment to survivors. The program at The College of Saint Rose caught her eye, because the college and her daughter, Mystica Rose, share the same name.

When Ms. Skinner's offer of assistance included the notice that she lived near Saint Rose, Ms. Mukeshimana applied, received a student visa and was admitted. (KD)

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