Every Student Has a Story: Prince Ndayegamiye '26

Prince Ndayegamiye '26 has only trace, deeply faded memories of his father and his native country, but both have dramatically shaped the person he's become.

The ongoing bloody conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) - the second largest country in Africa by land area - broke out in 1998. The war (technically there have been multiple wars) has been rooted in unresolved bitter feuding between two ethnic groups: the Tutsi and the Huti. They've mercilessly battled over power and natural resources, and in only the first five years of the conflict, nearly five million people were killed by fighting, starvation, or disease. The war in Congo is considered the world's deadliest since World War II, and Prince's father is counted among the casualties.

When Prince was only three years old, gunmen attacked a refugee camp in Gatumba, just over the Congo border in Burundi. Most of the 1,700 refugees in the camp had fled the Sud-Kivu region in eastern Congo to escape the violence, but crossing the border didn't provide refuge. Prince's father was among the more than 150 people killed in the Gatumba massacre. Within the year, Prince, his mother, and his four siblings would make it to safety when they were granted asylum into the United States. Their arduous journey ended in Albany.

"I don't talk to my mom about it much. It was very traumatic for her. Now that I'm older, I hear bits and pieces of what happened, and I have done some research on my own. It's nice to have Br. Michael to speak to about it."

Prince always knew he would attend college because it was his mother's dream for her children to earn college degrees. Siena wasn't always an option though, until Prince earned a scholarship through the College's Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) during his senior year at Albany High School. HEOP also provided Prince the opportunity to participate in a travel course to Italy led by Fr. Mark Reamer, O.F.M., vice president for mission. While abroad, Fr. Mark decided to connect Prince with Br. Michael Perry, O.F.M., director of the Laudato Si' Center.

"Br. Michael has spent time in Congo and throughout Africa. He knows so much about it and what's happening there, and he even knows a bit of my language. It was great talking with him. And then he asked me, 'What are you doing this summer?'"

Prince accepted Br. Michael's offer to intern in the Laudato Si' Center alongside Br. Jacek Orzechowski, O.F.M., associate director of the Center, and Prince is using his burgeoning marketing skills to help promote this October's on-campus integral ecology symposium. In fact, he wrote the script for a promotional video that's being used to drum up registration among high school students.

"Laudato Si' is about combatting climate change and ignorance, and using inclusivity to make the world a better place. I'd like to help bring that message to Congo."

Even though Prince can't remember living in Congo, he proudly associates with his birth nation and grieves for its struggles. He's never been back, but he'd like to make the trip this summer. He wants to meet the family he's only ever seen on FaceTime and connect with his past. At the same time, he couldn't be happier with the present, which recently included a poignant honor.