Starting over: Young father of 6 flees war-torn country for refuge in Idaho

TWIN FALLS – Jean Claude Kwiganba’s story is like thousands of others.

Betrayed by his country, leaders, government and life, the 35-year-old father of six is seeking safety and refuge in Idaho.

Kwiganba was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he lived most of his life. He also spent time in Uganda and, for the past two years, has lived with his family in one of eight Ugandan refugee camps.

“There was war. There was insecurity. People were kicked out of their homes and many were killed,” Kwiganba recalls.

The young father was determined to somehow get to America and when he recently sat down with EastIdahoNews.com, he had been living in Twin Falls only 14 days.

“I came to America because it’s the (country) that gives me assistance for a new life,” Kwiganba says. “Americans are always good.”

Every minute of every day, 24 people worldwide are displaced from their homes, according to the United Nations. The organization believes there are over 60 million refugees across the globe, and 85,000 will enter the United States of America this year.

Approximately 300 refugees are accepted into the College of Southern Idaho refugee resettlement program in Twin Falls each year.

“They’re looking for freedom and opportunity,” CSI Refugee Center Director ZeZe Rwasama says. “All they’re thinking about when they come here is, 'How can I survive?'”

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