Initiatives
Why do I Exist?

Why Do I Exist is an initiative to assist orphans from the Rwanda genocide coordinated by Marie Claudine Mukamabano, herself an orphan survivor from the genocide

Burgess COMMENTARY

Peter Burgess

Our Founder & History

Our Founder with Rwandan orphans in Kigali at Gisimba orphanage

Most of the people ask me why I called my organization, “Why Do I Exist?”

During the genocide in Rwanda, I find myself jumping over the bodies of the people, children were being killed from my left and right, people were being shot in front of me. I really didn’t think I’d survive, I thought I’d die like everyone else. Therefore, I took a vow before God. I said, “Lord, if you save my life and I survive, I will do everything in my ability to help Rwandan orphans”.

Before that, my dream was to get a PhD in mathematics because I was really good in it. I was the first young girl in my school to win a scholarship to study Mathematics in the best Catholic school in Rwanda named “College Saint Andrew”. I was brilliant, So I thought nothing would stop me to get the PhD, and invent something which students would learn in school such as inventions of Archimedes, Pythagoras , or like others scientists who invented something that changed the world. It was a big dream for my age but I wanted to leave a legacy. My plan was to call it my full name “Marie Claudine MUKAMABANO”. I could visualize my invention in my dream when I was still in elementary school.

It would have been wonderful to have the students everywhere learning about my invention. So, the moment I made a promise to God to help the orphans, I changed my plan. I said that if God saved my life, I would not get the PhD in mathematics but instead I will study business and establish my organization to raise money, and to help orphans. Economics was my favorite field since it has a lot to do with math, because I really love math.

Due to the lack of the required number of students to study Economics, I was obliged to study business instead.

Why Do I Exist? Is a question I ask myself as a genocide survivor and I believe that my existence is to praise God and help others. I believe my existence is to change somebody’s life. I believe it’s my duty to promote peace, and to prevent evil acts by promoting the acts of kindness, and the benefits of performing God’s holiness.

In September 2005 when I was dancing with the Rwanda Dance Group, and we were talking about the genocide and the survivors in Rwanda. We were planning to figure out our next step as artists to help improve the lives of survivors, especially the orphans, which is my life’s mission. I remember telling Rwanda Super Star Jean Paul SAMPUTU that I wanted to name the organization that reflected myself, something that will make me definitely feel responsible for somebody. It came up in my mother tongue, KUKI NDIHO? “Why Do I Exist?” “Why I Exist?”

Sometimes, we blame other people for our failures; and we sit down with our arms crossed assuming that they will do something to solve our problems. I wanted to do something for the helpless to take responsibility, and make a difference in somebody’s life, because I wanted to acknowledge how God saved my life. That’s how Why Do I Exist came to life. It helped me to fulfill my promises to God, and the vow I made to God during the genocide in Rwanda.

THANK YOU so very much for all my friends and supporters who are helping to advance my Book writing project

Thank you so much for your ideas and guidance. Thank you. Thank you. May God continue to protect and bless you. Peace.

Marie Claudine MUKAMABANO
Founder & CEO of WHY DO I EXIST?/
KUKI NDIHO RWANDA ORPHANS SUPPORT PROJECT

Kuki Ndiho Foundation :: Why Do I Exist

www.whydoiexist.org

—————– Please meet our Founder, Miss Marie Claudine MUKAMABANO on picture below
Marie Claudine MUKAMABANO ... “My Existence is to Praise God and Help others “

The Genocide in Rwanda has brought many orphans, widowers/widows disabled in many different ways, and a large number of HIV/AIDS victims.Rwanda is facing all kinds of problems, such as poverty, lack of knowledge and advocacy on a daily basis.

” This is why I stand before you today, I need your help and my people need you assistance “ (Marie Claudine Mukamabano/ Rwanda Mult -Talented/ Performing arts).

After losing my parents,sister,cousins, aunts ,uncles , grands parents, loved ones, friends, classmates, and fellow countrymen during the Genocide and War in Rwanda.

My Catholic faith inspiried me to seek the answer to the question of KUKI NDIHo?(Why do I exist?-Pourquoi J’existe?).

So,I founded KUKI NDIHO RWANDA ORPHANS SUPPORT PROJECT with a Mission to advocate orphan children (mostly street kids,) whom their parents were either killed during genocide, or died of AIDS/HIV.

The project’s current goals and Mission : are to find sponsors and pen – pals who can support genocide orphans both financially and emotionally.

Other goals include assisting widowers of HIV/AIDS victims,helping Rwandan women, fighting against rural exodus,promoting education,aiding youth employment,promoting Rwandan artists and culture through tourism,and facilitating inter cultural exchange with foreign countries.

Marie Claudine Mukamabano

Rwandan Traditional Dance

*Accomplishments*

200 children studying in Primary school , High School /Secondary school in Rwanda, we work towards finding other children or parents around the world to correspond.

This correspondence will help them to overcome the trauma and realize that at least someone cares for them and therefore they will no longer feel lonely.

KUKI NDIHO? Members and founder would greatly appreciate your support in this way of reconciliation and forgiveness in Rwandan youth community. Thank you and be blessed

Please make your contributions to :
KUKI NDIHO RWANDA ORPHANS SUPPORT PROJECT
Marie Claudine MUKAMABANO
1186 Fulton Street
Brooklyn zip 11216
New York USA
Tel: 347 465 4045

Rwanda genocide: Commemoration of the 15th anniversary

https://youtu.be/8dcCLj_cahA

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Uploaded on Apr 7, 2009

United Nations, 7 April 2009 - In commemoration of the 15th anniversary of the Rwanda genocide the United Nations Department of Public Information organized in cooperation with the Permanent Mission of Rwanda to the UN, a commemorative event. The ceremony included a solemn reading of testimonies of survivors of the genocide by UN officials, well known personalities and students.

View the entire event (Real Media, 1 hour and 23 minutes): http://webcast.un.org/ramgen/ondemand... Annual Commemoration webpage: http://www.un.org/preventgenocide/rwa... News Story: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp... Category News & Politics License Standard YouTube License

MARIE CLAUDINE MUKAMABANO

https://youtu.be/Zd5RDDVgub4

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Uploaded on Mar 14, 2011

'Women and Reconciliation' Ms. Marie Claudine Mukamabano Kuki Ndiho-Rwandan Orphans Support Project Category People & Blogs License Standard YouTube License SHOW LESS COMMENTS Peter Burgess Add a public comment...