July 23, 2024
A former refugee who has lived in Australia for 11 years is hoping the Kingaroy community may be able to help him bring out more members of his persecuted Banyamulenge community to Australia.
The Banyamulenge are Tutsi who live in the South Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Jerome Rugaruza told southburnett.com.au the Banyamulenge were ordered out of DR Congo – where they had lived for centuries – in the wake of the genocide which occurred in 1994 in neighbouring Rwanda.
His father did not get out in time and was killed, but Jerome managed to escape to a refugee camp in Kenya. His wife went to Burundi.
The couple later made it to Australia where they now live in Newcastle with their 10 children.
In Australia, Jerome founded the “Global Alliance For Peace” (GAP) to “breach the gap between misery and a better life” for refugees.
His projects include supporting a business school in Kenya which teaches refugees to be independent.
“I am helping refugees to help themselves,” he said.
One of the Banyamulenge refugees that Jerome is trying to help is Alexis Chabakuru, who is currently living with his wife, Jolie Nabahiga, and their four children in the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya.
“I was born in the same village in South Kivu,” Jerome said.
Alexis got out of DR Congo in 2000 to neighbouring Burundi, but was singled out there, too, as a Tutsi.
After the infamous Gatumba Massacre, when members of a predominantly Hutu Burundian rebel movement shot dead more than 150 Banyamulenge in a refugee camp, Alexis fled to Kenya.
However, the Banyamulenge have also faced discrimination in Kenya, including the jailing of 21 men in 2007 from the Kakuma camp.
Alexis has now lived in refugee camps for 22 years.
Jerome has applied to sponsor Alexis and his family to Australia under the Federal Government’s humanitarian Community Support Program (CSP) immigration scheme.
The Department of Home Affairs describes CSP as a way “an individual, business or community organisation can help someone in humanitarian need start a new life in Australia”.
The sponsor funds the visas and other costs, including travel. Once in Australia, the refugee is not eligible for Centrelink payments for 12 months so the sponsor must find him a place to live, help with getting a job and support the family.
This is where Jerome hopes the Kingaroy community may be able to help.
Jerome has already paid $44,561 in a down payment to the Department for the family’s visas and medical checks, and this week handed over the remaining $22,000.
However, he needs to raise another estimated $12,000 for airfares plus organise a place for the family to stay, a job for Alexis and schooling for the children.
Jerome decided to approach the Kingaroy community after hearing about the support the Lutheran Church had provided to another former refugee who had found work at a local business.
He hopes the generosity of local churches and service clubs may be able to assist him with supporting Alexis.
Jerome has been living with members of the Kingaroy Lutheran Church congregation during his stay, but also hopes other churches, Rotary and Lions may be able to help.
Once Alexis is settled, Jerome hopes to help other Banyamulenge to settle in Australia, too.
The Federal Government has recently reduced the cost of the CSP visa application process, which he says should make his dream of resettling more Banyamulenge in Australia more affordable.
Anyone who would like to help Jerome, should contact the chairman of the St John’s Lutheran congregation, Rodney Patch by email
