Sandra Uwiringiyimana

About

Sandra Uwiringiyimana is a Congolese-born author, human rights activist, and advocate for refugees and displaced communities. Born in South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, she belongs to the Banyamulenge community, a minority group that has faced longstanding discrimination and violence. As a child, she fled her homeland with her family and sought refuge in neighbouring Burundi. In 2004, when Sandra was ten years old, armed attackers massacred people at the Gatumba refugee camp, killing her mother and younger sister. After years of displacement, she and her surviving family members resettled in Rochester, New York, in 2007. Adjusting to life in the United States brought new challenges, including racism and questions of identity and belonging. Sandra became an outspoken advocate for refugees, women, and children affected by conflict. She has addressed the United Nations Security Council, calling for greater protection for children in armed conflict, and has worked with the Jimbere Fund to support communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Her memoir, How Dare the Sun Rise: Memoirs of a War Child (2017), co-written with journalist Abigail Pesta, recounts her experiences of loss, displacement, and survival. Through her writing and activism, she seeks to bring attention to overlooked communities and the lasting human consequences of war.