Song written by Lewis Bucumi
Burundian refugee student, age 30
“Refugees”
I have something in my heart that I am missing.
My friend, are you all right?
Are you still fine?
Although I am a refugee,
it is not I who decided to be one.
Now I sleep in a tent,
yet once I had a beautiful house.
Please God, help Burundians find peace in their land.
Let your holy spirit come and judge people who do the killings.
I am not a street boy, as we Burundians say.
I did not come here because of hunger, as the leaders say.
I left behind plantations ripe for harvest.
I left maize ready but now eaten by bugs.
I abandoned cattle and sheep on the farm.
I left milk in the milk pots.
I left potato and cassava, now consumed by insects.
I left all at home.
I came with nothing.
Now I feed on maize, oil, beans.
At home I ate whatever I wanted.
I am here not because I wanted to come here. No!
I wanted to save my life!
I left the girl I love crying alone on the hills.
I thank Rwanda for welcoming us.
I thought I would never return to school and write.
I thank UNHCR and ADRA for the help they give.
You built a school so we can study as we once did.
We study math, English, French.
Parents, come together! Put our children in school.
In a refugee camp, nothing can be higher priority
than educating our children.
May God bless you.
See also
![resized_147099917673](http://www.unhcr.org/rw/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2016/07/resized_1470999176731-1440x632.jpg)
UNHCR and Rwanda discuss solutions for refugees during World Refugee Day 2016 commemoration
![photo_0062_sm](http://www.unhcr.org/rw/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2016/06/photo_0062_sm.jpg)
UNHCR Concerned by Government Statement on Relocation of Burundian Refugees to Third Countries
![dsc_0310](http://www.unhcr.org/rw/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2016/09/DSC_0310.jpg)