For decades, refugees have found refuge in the United States. Now here blossomed a new generation, and one group of refugees managed to escape from poverty due to the indifference of Christians to their needs and creative approach to education.
To go to school in a new city is a difficult task, especially when it is on the other end of the globe from your house.
“When I came here, everything changed, everyone treated me differently. I felt that way,” says Louise Irankunda.
In seven years, Louisa and her family fled Africa and settled in des Moines, Iowa.
“I didn’t really know what America is all I hear it is awesome, and that’s where the money grows on trees,” continued the girl.
Louise didn’t know English and struggles trying to adapt to the new environment.
“It was very difficult, I was bullied. After all, I came here bald, because we were told that the hair you need to shave,” she recalls.
Nancy Muirii, a native of Africa, living in des Moines, I saw how difficult it is for refugees, especially young girls.
“I realized that we need to start a unique program to show the girls that they are not alone,” says Nancy.
Organizing a dance class, Nancy soon noticed that the relationship has changed.
“I began working with students from refugee and realized that we have a great opportunity to influence students with low income,” she says.
Following this success, Nancy began looking for better ways to inspire kids, and it was then that God put in her heart the idea of programming.
“So, I was an ambitious dream – to teach children computer programming, but we had no place. However, God is good, because when He gives you a task, know what He does? It gives you everything you need to run it,” says Nancy Ngirazi.
Nancy found the Church for training and volunteers training in computer science to teach a program called “PI 515 – Pursuit of Innovation” (“In search of innovation”).
“We’re trying to figure out how to teach the younger generation new skills that we didn’t have that number of children living in poverty. If you’re poor, and don’t get new features, you’ll just continue to live the same life. And what will happen to these guys?” continues Nancy Murozi.
They are open to boys and girls, each student hails from African war-torn countries. Ten years ago some of these children could not even speak English, but now thanks to the program, PI 515 these teenagers learn to build robots and create their own web sites.
Hosting year round, such free technology program is not so simple. They rely on donations in regard to everything from computers to teachers and other surprises. And because of this faith Nancy strengthened.
“I believe that when God shows you a need, He wants you to do something with it did. He says, you know, do it for me, and while you’re taking care of that, I’ll be there for you. And we will fight, for what it’s worth, so that every child, which we know have new opportunities,” she continues.
And their efforts were not in vain. Many students who never thought I would graduate high school, receive scholarships in College.
“I imagine a couple of years to get a degree in computer science and I am very happy. I want to know how computers work, and would really like to come up with something that will help other people,” says Bonito Ndassima.
Iowa offered a full scholarship Bonito, the guy was the first in his family, received a four-year College education.
“I even could not imagine that I will have what I have today,” he says.
And this is not the only success story.
“I learned to program, learned to use sparadici for creating websites and have created your own. I know that God will always be there with me and He always will take care of all my needs,” says Louise Irankunda.
Louise was only 15, but her current set of skills can provide her with a salary of $ 50,000 or higher. Thanks to the program, PI 515 many children, who previously felt marginalized and could not communicate with their peers, now have a bright future.