My name is Tarisisi. I come from North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2022, I was forced to flee my home due to war and insecurity. Rebels attacked our home and burned it down. My parents, three siblings, and neighbors were all killed in the house fires. I am the only person remaining in our family. I survived by escaping through a back window. Along the way, a good samaritan gave us a free ride from Goma to Bunagana in Uganda.
While in Uganda, I met my former neighbor, Juliette. She had also lost her entire family. We developed a friendship and later got married. From Bunagana, we traveled to the Busia border and crossed into Kenya. We had no shoes or money. A hotel owner in Busia covered the cost of our travel to Nairobi.
In 2021, we arrived in Nairobi and met Peter, a fellow Congolese, at the bus station. He welcomed us to his home and provided us with food, clothing, and shoes. The following day, he took us to UNHCR for registration. He also trained me to sell phone accessories. We eventually moved out of my friend’s home to our own place.
For months, I sold phone accessories, but the profits could not sustain us. I was unable to afford my monthly rent. That’s when I learned about RefugePoint from Peter and his wife. We went to the RefugePoint office and explained our situation. In November 2023, RefugePoint began supporting me as a client. RefugePoint assisted me with food support, rent assistance, and medical help for my wife. Later, I was enrolled in business training, where I received a grant.
I used the grant to rent a stall where I sold phone chargers and covers, headphones, and other phone accessories. Recently, I started selling nyama choma (barbecued meat). I roast approximately 7 kg of meat daily to generate extra income. My family has undergone significant changes since being assisted by RefugePoint. Now, I can depend on myself. I can purchase food, pay my house rent, buy clothes, cooking gas, a bed, and chairs.
My daughter, Mary, is our hope. We plan to enroll her in school soon. Although my wife still faces health issues, life is better now.
We are happy as a family because we have something to do for work. I can provide for my family’s primary needs. We are rebuilding—day by day.
Mercy, Tarisisi’s case manager, shared, “Tarisisi has demonstrated resilience and financial responsibility. He is managing his business effectively, which is now performing exceptionally well.”