Espérance and Fidèle’s Story

Caritas International Belgium Espérance and Fidèle’s Story
08/11/2017

“I was often told that I wouldn’t find any support in Europe”

“When I arrived at the center in Kapellen, I wondered if I would really be able to make a home for myself here…it was winter. The weather was terrible. I had often been told that I wouldn’t find any support in Europe. I quickly saw that that wasn’t the case. I have received a lot of help here. When you have someone by your side to guide you and explain everything, you can understand everything better.”

“When I arrived at the center in Kapellen, I wondered if I would really be able to make a home for myself here…it was winter. The weather was terrible. I had often been told that I wouldn’t find any support in Europe. I quickly saw that that wasn’t the case. I have received a lot of help here. When you have someone by your side to guide you and explain everything, you can understand everything better.”

Fidèle Munezero, 33, is one of the many Congolese forced to flee conflicts in their home country. His wife, Espérance, also left everything behind. “I fled Congo with my family when I was very young,” Espérance, 25, says. We met at a refugee camp in Burundi.” The couple has been married for seven years. They then arrived in Belgium through the refugee resettlement program. Espérance came to Belgium at the end of 2015. She was with her parents, brothers, sisters, and children. Due to an error with her resettlement paperwork, her husband was not admitted at the same time as her. Fidèle didn’t arrive in Belgium until a year later.

“While I was still in Africa, my wife told me about how she had resettled with Caritas’s help,” Fidèle remembers. After staying at a collective reception center, Espérance moved to Houffalize in the province of Walloon Brabant. “My husband, children and I had lived together for years. But at Houffalize, I was like I was a child again, living with my parents. I didn’t have my own money to take care of my kids. I wanted to live with my family and my husband with social assistance from the commune, but that wasn’t possible. I found Caritas’s phone number and got in contact with them. They asked for details about my situation and said that they would help me.” Caritas alerted the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) of the mistake and found housing for Espérance and her children.

CHALLENGES

Finding housing for vulnerable refugees is a real problem. Like the majority of refugee families, Espérance, was unable to find housing in the same commune as the rest of her family. She was forced to move again, finally finding an apartment in Gent, 220 km from Houffalize. “Greta, the owner, was very welcoming. Her whole family came to visit us. They brought a bit of everything: things for the children, and even a wardrobe!” exclaims Espérance.

“I get asked if Caritas continues helping me and I reply that of course they do.” Caritas has continued checking up on the family, even from across the country. “Over the weekend I went to a second-hand shop with a Caritas worker, he gave me addresses to different stores and found a school for the children. My older son was taking French classes and had to also start taking Dutch.”

Integration is a term that is often used, but it is important to realize that behind this word lie several challenges: a new language, a new culture, a new education system, a new health system, and expectations that must be continuously readjusted, not always in a negative way.

AN UNEXPECTED CALL

“One fine morning I got a call from Caritas: “Did you know that Fidèle is in Belgium?” they asked. I replied I didn’t, and that they shouldn’t joke about something like that…but it was true. Fidèle was here,” smiled Espérance. “Everything happened so fast after that. I fond out on Friday that I would be leaving the next day.

It has now been a year that Fidèle and his younger brothers and sisters arrived at the collective center in Kapellen. With four additional people, life in the apartment became cramped. The family then began looking for a place to live. They managed to find housing in Brakel thanks to our partner landlords: nuns from the convent.

In the meantime, their house has become a veritable home. Wedding pictures and a little cross adorn the walls. The chimney is decorated with little wooden statues and a Congolese flag. A handful of cushions and stuffed animals sit on a shelf. “The kids like playing with the lion, even though there aren’t any lions here,” laughs Fidèle. “I am also very happy here. I like the calm of being in nature. People are kind. I never plan on leaving. Not even in 40 years.”

A PATH TOWARDS THE FUTURE

“I now see my life’s path laid out in front of me,” Fidèle continues. “I have become my sibling’s guardian. The process of finding a Belgian equivalent of my degree is underway. Last week, I passed my Dutch exam and I registered on VDAB. We would like to take a training course.” Espérance wants to work as a caregiver. “In Burundi, everyone takes care of the elderly, but there isn’t any training,” she remarks.

As his Burundian driving license is not valid in Belgium, Fidèle has to restart from the beginning. He’s staying positive. “I got a 40 out of 50 on the written exam, but the minimum passing score is a 42. It’ll be smooth sailing once I pass the written test since I already know how to drive.” The family receives temporary assistance from the nuns from the convent. Fridays, Myriam brings her car to take Espérance grocery shopping. “Myriam is the youngest,” adds Espérance. “We get along well.”

“To be honest, it’s hard when you don’t have anyone,” Fidèle explains. “Thankfully when we have problems, we can always count on Caritas, the nuns, friends from our walking club, our neighbors…I hope with all my heart that others can receive care similar to what we received.”

And for the future? “I have a lot of hope that everything will be okay,” smiles Fidèle. “At least for my children so that they can go to school and find jobs.” Espérance and Fidèle are now the proud parents of a three-month-old daughter. “Her name is Myriam.”

Behind each figure, a story

Caritas International Belgium Valentine’s story

Valentine’s story

Since July 2018, Valentine[1], and her three children have lived in a studio at Logis de Louvranges, a shelter for vulnerable women with or without…

Read more
Caritas International Belgium The Story of Souad and Heba

The Story of Souad and Heba

“I had no future in Syria?” says 17-year-old Heba Joha; “Right now, I’m in the process of designing one.” Three years ago, the Syrian family,…

Read more
All the stories