Meet Joseph

We hope some of you can meet Joseph in person. He’s serene, cheerful, studious, and absolutely determined to practice English. At his cohort’s graduation this month, he wrote and read a speech that brought tears to some of our eyes.

Joseph describes his life before the Second Congo War as having "no problems." He lived with his wife and ten children in Bukavu (eastern DRC), where he owned a printing business and produced church songbooks and study guides for students. His press, he told us, laughing, "was very old, but it worked!” 

In 1998, rebels in the RDC (Rally for Congolese Democracy) took control of the region and began conscripting children into their army. Joseph's outspoken opposition resulted in his kidnapping, torture, and lasting injuries. In the end, he fled to Burundi, living alone in a refugee camp for 11 years before reuniting with his family. Together they moved to Uganda until 2023, when UNHCR resettled Joseph, his wife, and three of their children. The others had to stay behind.

Joseph is happy in Rhode Island, though he misses his children every day and is determined to find work to support them. He enjoys gardening and would love to work on a farm or in a print shop. His dream is “that we can live together and share the peace that America offers.”bea