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The VITA Enrichment class meets each week to provide instruction in different skills. The class meets on Tuesdays from 9:00 until 10:30 a.m.
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In 1994, Rwanda suffered genocide that took the lives of almost one million innocent members of the Tutsis ethnic group. The 2004 film, Hotel Rwanda, portrayed the struggle of an ordinary man named Rusesabagina, who, out of love and compassion, managed to save the lives of 1,268 people. The film was considered for many awards and was a popular news topic.
Dancilla Mukarushema and her husband, Benoit Nshimiyumuremyi, refugees from Rwanda, entered the VITA program in 2005. They had both been certified teachers in their country and were the parents of three boys. Their language was French but Dancilla spoke some English. They began work in the VITA Computer Lab to improve their English language skills. Both were young, very tall and handsome, with beautiful teeth. Dancilla looked like one of the African queens I had seen in history books. I was struck by their enthusiasm to learn and their musical voices when they spoke French to each other.
During breaks, I questioned Dancilla about her country, about the rebellion, about the meaning of her name. She told me that in her country a wife was allowed to keep her maiden name. Her name was her mother’s name. It meant “strong mother.” She was forever reminded that she had come from a strong mother, therefore, she, the daughter, must be strong as well. Then she told us stories of the rebellion. Her family had to run for their lives three times. They had to hide in the forest during the day and work in a garden at night. In a settlement, they had raise chickens to sell for money. They showed us pictures of relatives whom they had not seen or heard from since they left Rwanda. Through all of this, their spirits were strong and unbroken.
Dancilla and Benoit continued to come to the lab to study for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and other software programs. They were also members of Betty Haynes' ESL classes. Their family also received help from many people in Acadiana during this time, for which they were very grateful.
Then the VITA group classes stopped for Dancilla. She took a job working at a local hotel cleaning rooms, but she continued to work in the Computer Lab at night. Meanwhile, Benoit studied in the Lab and worked with a book and tapes at home to prepare for the TOEFL. His command of the English language greatly improved and he later passed the test. Our staff told him of a degree program at ULL and he is now studying there. He will receive his masters in French next summer.
Dancilla was able to pursue a Certified Nursing Assistant's license at the Louisiana Technical College. The course was intense with daily classes and tests. She continued to work at the hotel and to care for their boys. Dancilla recently passed the CNA exam and found employment in her new field.
We, at VITA, are so proud of Dancilla and Benoit. Theirs is another VITA success story - one of many that we will tell over and over.
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A new class offering basic literacy skills and enrichment is now offered at the VITA Training Room on Tuesdays from 9:00 until 10:30 a.m. VITA Staff Member Mallory Mitchell conducts the group instruction on different topics. Math skills, grammar and role-playing are some of the subjects that the class has covered.
