Refugee embraces opportunities

She may be small in stature, but Ange Nemerimana’s high-wattage smile and colorful African garb make her difficult to miss in the halls of Lewis and Clark High School.

Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nemerimana spent her formative years in a refugee camp in Tanzania. LC adviser Marty Frazier said, “She was placed with her grandmother at birth because her mother didn’t feel like she could care for her.”

Nemerimana’s father had died, and when her mother remarried, Nemerimana stayed with her grandmother. When she was 2, war forced them to flee to a refugee camp. “When we first got there we lived in tents,” Nemerimana said.

Life in the camp was difficult. “If you needed clean water, you had to work for it,” she said. “We walked 45 minutes to get water and 45 minutes to bring it back. We had no oven. We cooked outside, so we needed to get wood. That was two to three hours away.” Full story. Cindy Hval, SR

Nemerimana’s attitude of gratitude was refreshing. Are you a grateful person?