Announcement
I was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has been fractured by corruption and tribal warfare. Seeing families be torn apart due to the violence, my parents dreamed of safety and a better life for their children. So when I was only ten-months-old, they made the decision to flee to Mozambique. It was a devastating journey – my grandfather and uncle were killed as we tried to escape.
Josephine at Uplift Luna Preparatory.
Photo: Uplift Education
In 2001, my family were refugees in Mozambique. Waking up in a refugee camp every morning, there was no hope. The better life my parents had dreamed about seemed out of reach, and they were sure I would never receive the education they had hoped for. Education in the camp was considered a waste of time; everyone knew they would end up as farmers. But it was better than doing nothing and schools kept kids out of the way so they wouldn’t disturb their parents while they worked in the fields.
In the camp, I walked to school barefoot carrying my supplies in a plastic bag. Sometimes I would be so hungry, I would trade my supplies for food on the way. My parents, who had always dreamed of pursuing higher education, felt it was necessary to take drastic measures. With my education as the priority, my parents made connections with people in our church and eventually found a Mozambican family willing to take me in. My family hoped that by leaving them behind, I could finally fulfill their dreams of being educated.
Recognizing the rare chance I was given at a real future, I worked extra hard to adapt to the new culture and make my family proud. Being Congolese and living with a Mozambican family, I learned to understand and navigate two different cultures, even learning Portuguese. The Mozambican family I had moved in with provided me with great opportunities to study, and as I adjusted to my new environment my parents continued to work to get our family out of Mozambique.
Josephine and her family after being resettled by the IRC.
Photo: Andrew Holzschuh
In 2013, after eight long years of waiting for our case to be processed, we were finally granted the opportunity to come to the United States. Throughout the years, my parents have taught me to always appreciate what I have and to look for open doors. Now that I am in the United States, I am continuously taking advantage of the opportunities which my parents fought for. My parents sacrificed everything to get our family here and I am incredibly grateful for the education system I am now part of – all of it has paved the road to where I am today. As a young girl who once traded her school supplies for food in Mozambique, I would have never imagined I would be given the chance to be educated the way my parents always dreamed.
Yet, I know not every refugee’s story ends as positively as mine. Even in my family, I was the only one who received a better education, experienced two different cultures, and is now able to share this knowledge with others. I hope to further my education so I can reach out to refugee children like myself who are unable to have educational opportunities. I want to make change where it seems impossible.
Josephine Kalondji and her family were resettled from Mozambique by the IRC in Dallas in 2013. Josephine Kalondji is in the 12th grade at Uplift Luna Preparatory Secondary School. Josephine says, “I love numbers - I love the math involved in engineering. My goal is to one day use my passions and education to help the Congo become a better place. However, I have come to understand that other stuff outside of what one loves is useful in life. I think it is important to try new things because you never know when the knowledge that is outside your natural interests could be useful.”