Refugee family gives thanks for their new life in Utah

IC Photos by Laura V. Sausedo

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From left to right: Bashire Nigarura, Enock Niyogushima, Fainesi Ibaze, Aline Nkunzimana, they arrived two years ago from Burudi, Africa to Utah.

SALT LAKE CITY - The Bashire family arrived in Utah two years ago from Burundi, Africa after 11 years in a refugee camp in Tanzania. Since then their life has never been the same.

The family was recently awarded the Catholic Community Services' Unsung Hero humanitarian award for representing a model family that has gone through CCS' refugee resettlement program.

Bashire Nigarura, the family's patriarch, expressed his gratefulness through a translator with a very expressive, "Thank you. God bless you. I was very happy that the CCS has recognized the work that we are doing."

Describing the process for adapting to a land can be difficult, especially when language is an issue. The four adult family members (Nigarura Bashire, Fainesi Ibaze, Aline Nkunzimana and Enok Niyogushima) speak Kirundi, which is their native idiom, but since they arrived to Utah, they have been studying hard to learn Enlish.

"The language might be a barrier, but not for us, people contribute to help us communicate", said Nigarura.

He was speechless when he learned his family would be given the award, and he thanked those who donated the money that was presented. "It has been very good," he said. "Thank for all that. It reminds me how I need to do the best I can."

Unlike some refugees, the Bashires arrived in the U.S. together as a family; after a period of time Nigarura realized that Utahns welcomed them. "It's amazing. It is incredible" how people reach out to help them, he said.

The youngest children have adapted easily to their new life, Nigarura said. "Here they are improving; they have more opportunities, they are going to be able to be better when they return to their country."

In this Thanksgiving season, the family has dreams that they hope will continue to come true. Nigarura wants to go to school and get good grades so he can attend the university and get a better job.

Burundi is a country in the Great Lakes region of eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its estimated population is almost 9 million. Its capital is Bujumbura. Although the country is landlocked, much of the southwestern border is adjacent to Lake Tanganyika.

Catholic Community Services of Utah (CCS) started in 1945 when Most Rev. Duane G. Hunt of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City recognized the need for an organized effort to assist the poor and needy.

The refugee resettlement program is just one of 11 programs overseen by CCS.