“You are going to live with your paternal uncle,” my grandfather said sadly.
“Father, how am I going to take care of these three children in addition to mine? It’s difficult, Father, and I don’t have much money,” my uncle Sagara replied.
“My son, I have no other solution because your big brother is no longer here and it’s up to you to take care of his children because they are yours too.”
“Father, I can take all the grandchildren except Piscas, the eldest. He can manage because he is already an adult.”
“No, you must take Piscas too. He is not yet able to take care of himself and moreover he has a lot of stress because of the death of his parents. He may commit suicide if he lives alone.”
I listened to my grandfather’s conversation with my uncle. We were in the living room of my grandfather’s house. I had become an orphan, along with my little brother Dan and my little sister Nancy. I was very sad. I could not understand the tragic death of my parents, who had recently died in a road accident. My little brother and sister and I were being forced to stay with my uncle. A mean man, Sagara lived with his wife Maria and his two children, a boy aged fourteen and a girl aged ten. I had never thought that one day we would be orphans and have to go and live with another family. A new page had turned in my life.
My grandfather lived in the village, and he did not have the means to raise us. That’s why he wanted us to stay with our uncle in the city. It was the only place we could go. Were we going to live a beautiful, calm life filled with love? That was the question that went through my head.
Three days later, we were taken to my uncle’s house. No one greeted us. That’s when I began to feel uneasy. The two children, Luc and Lisa, were sitting in the living room, watching television. They did not say anything to us. Their suspicious looks told us that we were not welcome in their home. Their mother was busy in the kitchen preparing food. My uncle took me to a room at the back of the house, filled with darkness and insects.
“Piscas, this is your new room,” he said solemnly.
“Uncle, look at all these insects. There’s no electricity, it’s dark in here. It looks like a goat house.”
Without answering me, he slapped me. “Are you crazy? You think you’re going to be in charge here like you were at home? I’m the one in charge here, and you do what I say, you ill-mannered bastard,” he shouted.
Hot tears were streaming down my cheeks. I was at a loss for words. I took my suitcase and put it in that dark room. I threw myself onto the bed and cried my eyes out. My uncle went to the living room to direct Dan and Nancy to their rooms. Dan was taken to Luc’s room; they were the same age. Nancy was taken to Lisa’s room; she was five years older than Lisa. In the morning my little brother and sister came to tell me that they had slept on a sheet on the floor. I was shocked. My heart raced, and I felt very sad. This family didn’t want us.
Nancy was treated like a servant: she mopped and swept, prepared food and washed up, all on her own. Dan and I went to fetch water from a tap located 200 meters from the house every day. While we worked, Luc and Lisa stayed home doing nothing but watch television all day. We had no choice. The family didn’t consider our feelings.
The days passed. My unlce was a bus driver who left for work early every morning and returned late in the evening. He was always tired and never had time to talk with us. His wife also worked—in a tailoring and sewing workshop—and she also came home late.
One Sunday, I walked home from church with Rodrigue, a friend of mine, and he told me about a refugee camp in Malawi. Interested, I listened to everything he told me about this camp: the multicultural diversity in the community, the peaceful environment. That evening, while my uncle was sitting on the veranda with a small bottle, I took the opportunity to talk to him about it.
“Uncle, I heard there is a refugee camp in Malawi. Is that true?”
“Yes, there is a camp there. Why are you asking me?”
“Uncle, I’m going there to find my life.”
“Find your life!” he said laughing.
“Yes, Uncle, I’m a man and I have to make my life and start a family like any other man.”
“I’m not stopping you, but do you have any acquaintances there or relatives? The answer is no. So why do you want to go and live in that camp where you won’t have anyone to help you? Where will you live?”
“Uncle, don’t be afraid, be a man. Count on me. But more importantly, what I’m asking you is to protect my little ones,” I said sadly.
“Piscas, I know you’ve grown up, and if you’re able to go live there, I can’t stop you. Perhaps it’s your destiny. And I’ll keep your little ones safe. What day are you leaving?”
“In three days, Uncle.”
“Okay, no problem.”
In the morning, I announced my departure to Dan and Nancy. Sad and frustrated, they hugged me and cried. I was going to miss them so much. With tears in my eyes, I promised them I’d be back soon. Three days later, on the day of my departure, accompanied by my uncle and my little ones, I boarded a bus. I watched Dan and Nancy cry as the bus left the station and said goodbye to them through the window. I was leaving my family for an unknown destination. Only God knew my path and my life.
We crossed several borders, and after a week of traveling we arrived in Malawi. Along with the other passengers, I was directed to the Dzaleka Refugee Camp. I didn’t know anyone in the camp, so I was directed to quarantine, while the others went to their relatives. I stayed in a tent made of tarpaulin, alone and sad. I slept hungry and in the morning I went to look for a small job to get food.
Every morning, I woke up early and went around the camp, asking people if they knew anyone who could offer me a job. After two weeks of searching, I found a job as a foreman on a construction site. One day while I was working on site, I met Mr. Musonge, a construction engineer in his thirties. He was wise, polite and charming. After work, I followed him and decided to talk to him about my situation. After my conversation with him, Mr. Musonge invited me to his church on Sunday. I accepted his invitation. I did not know his purpose for inviting me to church.
When I arrived at the church, I was warmly received. After the service, a collection was held for me. At the end of it, a sum of 100,000 Malawian kwacha was offered to me. I was so happy. I rented a house with this money and started a small business selling fries and cooked meats in a small market in the camp. I did very well with this small business.
Five months passed and things became complicated. I lost my business capital when one evening I was robbed by a group of thieves on my way home from work. They took everything from me. Worried and stressed, I decided to go to Zambia to try my luck there with some of the creative business ideas I had. I spoke to Mr. Musonge about my decision, and he encouraged me to go there. “You should go there, because many young people go there and they succeed in their lives,” he told me.
A few days later, I left for Zambia, and after a few weeks I arrived in Lusaka. I rented a small room and applied for various transcription jobs advertised online. In the mornings, I went to various companies to submit my CV. While waiting for a reply, I set up a small business selling donuts. In the evening, I spoke with my little brother and sister on the phone. They were happy to hear from me, but I missed them a lot.
One evening, as I was getting ready to go to bed, I received an email saying I had been hired by a telecommunications company. What joy! I had finally found a job. I jumped around the room, dancing like crazy. That same evening, I announced the news to my friend Mr. Musonge. An appointment was arranged for me via email.
On the appointed day, I went to the office and signed a contract for a salary of 900,000 Zambian kwacha per month. I was very happy. I had found a position as a company secretary. Every month I received my salary and saved some of it. My life began to change as I worked at this company.
Five years later, I opened my own business selling spare parts for vehicles. My business grew, and I contacted Mr. Musonge, who was still in Dzaleka, and told him to join me in Zambia so that we could work together. When he arrived, I welcomed him and rented him a house. After working with Mr. Musonge for a while, I opened a second business to thank him for his efforts. Eventually, Mr. Musonge relocated his family to Lusaka, and they started a new journey in Zambia.
A few years later, I decided to visit my family in Congo, because I missed my little brother and sister so much. I took a flight to Brazzaville. Dan and Nancy were overjoyed to see their big brother, and my uncle couldn’t believe his eyes. “It’s Piscas! Or am I dreaming?” he shouted. I gave everyone a gift. Not long after, I bought an apartment for my uncle and opened a business for him.
After my stay in Congo, I returned with Dan and Nancy to Zambia. My uncle and his wife were very happy and proud of me. My life has completely changed. My journey towards the unknown was full of difficulties but I did not give up. I fought like a man to fulfill my destiny.
