Funeral Expenses for Mama Esperance

We are raising money to help cover the funeral expenses for Mama Esperance. Mama Esperance passed away suddenly on April 25 from causes unknown. She was a mother of seven children ages 2, 3, 9, 12, 16, 20 and 22.

Mama Esperance and her husband, Papa Musafiri, brought their children to Albuquerque through the US refugee program and arrived in the US in March of 2020 just as COVID-19 outbreak began. For that reason, she was not yet very connected to the local community but she made a lasting impact on those around her.

Esperance left her homeland of Masisi (in the war-torn eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo) due to civil unrest. From there she fled to a refugee camp across the border in Uganda. She lived much of her life in the refugee camp where she met her husband and had their children. Life was hard in the refugee camp and as Masisi continued to be plagued with violence, she was not able to return back home.

She was accepted into the US refugee resettlement program 2020 and came to the US expecting a paradise but quickly realized that life would also be hard here. Finding work and learning a brand new language in a completely new system was hard but she worked hard to take care of her family. So she very quickly began to learn English through LFS and Umoja (two local non-profits) and began training for any job she could find. She was the sole breadwinner for the family..

Esperance was a very hard worker, quiet but was not afraid to ask questions because she knew that it was important for not only her, but her family. Her family depended on her support. She was curious how the system in the US worked. She spoke Kinyarwanda and Swahili and loved her family.

We will dearly miss her.

We are asking for your support to help with her funeral expenses. Please donate what you can. Every little bit helps.

You might wonder how I, Brandon, am associated Mama Esperance. I knew Esperance and her family through the work I do. Her kids have been part of our programs. The local African community is doing the bulk of the work to support Mama Esperance's family and I'm grateful to them all. I offered to support by setting this up for them. I'll be working closely with local leaders in the community to ensure that her family gets the support they need. Your support is GREATLY appreciated!