How I became a refugee…
I had been a student in Addis Ababa University until 2001. In 2001, I participated in the so-called “Ethiopian University Students’ Movement”, and it’s main objective was to attain the preservation of human and academic rights to free expression, which had never been in place before. All these issues were raised because we (the students) could not tolerate to see our university being patrolled by the military army, making the campus like a military camp rather than a place for gaining knowledge. To avoid these barriers, I personally participated in a struggle to attain these goals; meanwhile, the government response was far beyond my expectations. Rather than responding to the demands, the government took merciless actions that resulted in the deaths of many students and civilians and caused the destruction of the country’s property. During those times, I was detained, tortured and had gone through a lot of suffering up to a point to make me feel uncertain about my living in my home country safely. As a result, I fled from my home country to go to the Kakuma Refugee camp in Kenya in July, 2001.

Threatening refugee life situation…
Though I felt relieved to go away from the government who threatened me, it hadn’t taken me long to realize how life as a refugee really would be. Someone may think and talk about it, but for me, I doubt I could agree as long as he or she has never been there. If I am asked to describe the lives of refugees, my answer would be, “it is a life of struggle to sustain one’s life without knowing why you are sustaining it”. All services which are established for refugees do not go along with the refugee life demands. As a result, scarcity, poverty, malnourishment and boredom were the day-to-day phenomena for refugees. In the refugee camp, for the above reasons, refugees are forces to look for their own means to get the basic needs. While I was there, people told me that there were many people who died because of hunger. It is really a shame for an international organization like the UNHCR, to be unable to provide the basic necessities for refugees. Though this is one way that people die, the major cause is despair.

Imagine, living without purpose and light. Here, I am not implying that refugees do not have goals in life, they may have them, but attaining their goals in the refugee situation is like a camel passing through a needle’s eye, because of the apparent fact that the refugee’s life is in the control of the NGO’s. This means that there are always limitations that hinder refugees from getting out, no matter what their goals and attitudes are. So it is just like imagining light when being in the darkness. That is why I chose my title to be what it is. If thinking that doing something would not result in a change in something, there is no need to try, so that is why most refugees are leading the miserable lives due to these apparent facts. I can say that I am lucky to go out of that place, and I am now in a place to be able to do my best and I am ready to accept my successes and failures, because I will be the one responsible for either of the two and this is how life should be. Out there, people are crying because of suffering. No one seems to care. Although all donor countries are donating generously, it is also important to make sure that the donations reach the intended purpose.

From Darkness to Light
I have tried to show how my past experiences were; now, I would like to talk about the darkness ending and my beginning of life. Refugees sometimes are able to get out from the refugee camp and go to different countries by humanitarian programs. As a refugee, I was able to apply for these programs, because to have my life to turn onto the right track, the only option was to go to another country as a permanent resident, because I cannot go back to my home country. I was very lucky to be able to be sponsored as a WUSC student and to come to Canada and study engineering here at the NSAC. I am very happy to be here, because at least I have the opportunity to try to do something I want to do, but before, in the refugee camp, there was no way to even try. Though I mentioned a lot of bad situations that I faced being a refugee, I would also like to say I have gained many experiences which I wouldn’t have otherwise got. So it seems that living in the refugee camp had a good side, but only now that I am out of that place.

My situation, now, I can say is good. I am really glad to be here. But it doesn’t mean that I feel always happy. My past experiences of course sometimes make me feel depressed. But it is not difficult for me to understand the inevitable consequences from experiencing such dramas. But I have a strong belief that the past bad experiences will be eliminated by experiencing new ones from now onward.

Next, I would like to acknowledge people and organizations who have been working for me to be the place that I am.

Acknowledgements…
i) First, I would like to thank the WUSC organization which is founded by Canadian people, which facilitated the way that I was able to come here.

ii) I would like to thank the NSAC for sponsoring and waiving every financial issue, from my tuition fees, clothing, shelter, meal service, pocket money, etc. for one full year. Besides, the financial aid, I want to thank those who work in the different sectors on campus, especially Student Services, for their hospitality and compassion.

iii) I would like to thank the WUSC committee at the NSAC, who are: Pamela Craig, Wani James, Kathy Pickle, and Nelsa English, for working hard (like raising funds) for me, and making me feel comfortable. They really helped smooth my transition to adjust to my new environment.

iv) I would like to thank Krista Lake, Pam, Wani and Mekete Gebrehanna for welcoming me with good family reception and gifts when I first arrived in Halifax.
v) I would like to thank my professors Madigan, Pearson, Crowe and Cunningham, for their moral support and for having understanding about my situation, which really helped me to adjust to the Canadian academic system.

v) I would like to thank professor Tess and Mekete for their continual support in terms of ideas and guidance.

vi) Finally, my greatest personal thanks and appreciation would got to Pam, a WUSC committee member, who dedicated herself to support me in everything I’m doing by sharing her precious time with me. I can say that she is the greatest person I meet in Canada. She really is able to make me feel at home and she is so compassionate and understanding person. So I am happy and feel lucky to have her on my side. She is a great help for me.