My name is Bampamirurusa Theophile and this is a summary of my history.

Theo’s ID card. He was an “Extensionist Supervisor.” This role took him from the refugee camp and into the countryside and cities to teach people to make and use his new stove.

I was born in Burundi. I went to school in Burundi and I completed seventh grade in 1993 when I was 17.

That same year, Some Burundi generals assassinated the president and the people fought among themselves.

Theo and a coworker with one of Theo’s stoves.

In 1996, I ran to Tanzani and in December, I entered a refugee camp and it was a very hard life. While I was there, I discovered a way to cook food faster, so they made me a supervisor and I taught others in the camp how to cook and they also sent me out of the camp to teach others.

In 2005, an American immigration official came to the camp and gave everyone a health test and I passed. I got a visa to the United States. They sent me to Iowa in September 2006.

Theo and a coworker with one of Theo’s stoves.

When I got here, I was very happy for three months. The government gave us everything we needed. After that, I had to get a job. I had to find a place live. I needed to learn the language. For me, English was hard. I could not speak or understand it. I was a chicken. In December 2006, I started at the Catherine McAuley Center.

Now, I am able to get along at my job and with other people. I need to thank many people who helped me, and all the staff who work here. Thanks to everybody and God bless you.

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See photos of Theo’s life in Burundi and more stories from the Adult Basic Education program in the February/March Education Newsletter.