Rwandan refugee finds hope for her homeland through education at McMaster

Providence Abananatwe feels lucky to be in Canada attending university.

Born in Rwanda, Abananatwe was forced to leave her home for a refugee camp in Malawi
at the age of two after civil war broke out in the country. After graduating from
secondary school, she applied to the World University Service of Canada (WUSC), a
development organization that provides opportunities for those in refugee camps to
receive post-secondary education in Canada. Her academic prowess, combined with her
strong English language skills, made her an excellent candidate for the program, which
matched her with McMaster.

“I didn't know much about Canada at the time,” she said, “but it felt like a dream come
true.”

Adjusting to Canada was a challenge for Abananatwe, who experienced her first
moment of culture shock soon after landing at Pearson Airport.

“A man and a woman greeted each other and kissed,” she said. “Back home that would
never happen in public.”

Unfamiliar with both the country's culture and McMaster's campus, Abananatwe says she
was happy to start making friends and eventually begin working at the International
Students Service office. The experience of her initial few weeks at the University inspired
her to help organize a welcome committee for students in similar circumstances, which
she will launch this fall when she welcomes a fellow Rwandan to McMaster.

“It's difficult to move to another country and try to fit in right away,” said Abananatwe,
“but the experience really helps to make you a more independent person.”

One experience Abananatwe says she would prefer to have missed, however, came
within months of her arrival in the country: winter.

“I had never seen snow until I got here, and then there was so much,” she said. “It was
so cold!”

The political science and French major has a deep concern for her home country, and
hopes to one-day work for a non-governmental organization doing development work
there. She plans to apply for her Canadian citizenship in the coming years.

Abananatwe says regular phone chats with her parents in Malawi help her stay
connected to her family and events at home.

“I miss home a lot, but I know how important it is to get a good education. I'm glad to
be able to do that here.”