When Sandra Uwiringiyimana was a child, she survived one of the most horrific attacks on refugees in recent history.
In 2004, armed militants stormed the Gatumba refugee camp in Burundi, where thousands of Congolese refugees had fled violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They burned shelters and massacred civilians. Sandra watched as members of her family and community were killed. She survived — but the trauma and danger did not end there.
Eventually, Sandra was resettled in the United States through the U.S. refugee resettlement program. She rebuilt her life, became an author and activist, and has helped bring global attention to the plight of refugee girls and women.
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About the author
Sasha Chanoff
Sasha Chanoff is the founder/CEO of RefugePoint, partnering with refugees to access life-changing solutions. He is also the coauthor of “From Crisis to Calling: Finding Your Moral Center in the Toughest Decisions.” He’s received awards from the Obama administration’s White House, Schwab Foundation, Harvard, the Charles Bronfman Prize, DRK Foundation, Ashoka, and Echoing Green.
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