"My name is Jacqueline I live in Burundi. Before war began I was living very well, I was going to school, I had access to enough food and was living in a very nice house and could move freely without fearing. I would visit my friends, both Hutus and Tutsis without any problem. But when war began things were upside down, houses were destroyed and we were forced to leave school. Hutus and Tutsis began to fight with one another and it was not safe anymore. I fled into the forest to hide.

The forest became my new home, we had no food, no clothes and we started to suffer from diseases of malnutrition. We stayed in the forest and never came close to the road for ten years for fear of violence. While living in the forest I was abducted, with other girls by rebels and forced to carry very heavy bags for combatants. At that time I thought it would have been better for me to die, not to stay on earth and suffer like this, but I survived.

Even when we were in war I kept thinking that I was not going to die, I had hope that ultimately peace would come again in Burundi. Now that there is peace in Burundi I am working very hard to improve my life. I have enrolled in computer training classes and hope that I can get a job and take care of others.

Now whenever I see someone with many problems I tell them to relax and keep faith. It is very important to tell other people how hard your situation has been and how you overcame because they should know there is a possibility of rising above and helping others."