- Donat Niyigena – a 23-year-old man meets Kino Yves – a French man who makes videos while traveling around the world with an electric trike.
- Just a few miles away from Rwanda’s border with Uganda, Yves meets Niyigena in a touching encounter.
- From an extremely poor family in a Rwandan village, Niyigena’s life is completely changed
- Any type of job can take you anywhere and meet anybody
At exactly 3:30am on Saturday, April 27, I was up for my brief morning prayer. I am an ardent fan of this time. This is when I put myself together and prepare for the day, which, mainly, starts with a morning road run or an intense one-hour indoor cardio workout – for a healthy body and mind.
I am not here to share my personal story. I am here to share a touching story of Donat Niyigena – a young man from Gicumbi District in Rwanda’s hilly Northern Province.
Coming slightly back to my daily routine, one of the things I do before morning workouts, I slide through my cellphone to read WhatsApp messages – to update myself on anything I could have missed throughout the night.
On grabbing my smartphone, a YouTube notification from Isimbi TV – a popular local YouTube channel, had sent me this: “Twasuye wa munyonzi mwakunze. Burya disi yarize biranga avamo. Dore ibyamubayeho ahura n’uyu muzungu”. The title loosely translates: “We visited your favourite bicycle taxi operator. He is a school dropout. This is what happened when he met the other Muzungu (refer to a white man)”.
For nearly 19 years of my journalism journey, my number one area of interest has been “Human-interest stories” – so a fan of Isimbi TV and its owner – Sabin Umurungi, I am, mostly for his passion to cover those stories that completely change people’s lives.
By the time I was writing this piece, Isimbi TV had uploaded a video of Donat Niyigena – a 23-year-old bicycle taxi operator who is making rounds on social media – thanks to his efforts to speak English language during his encounter with a French tourist Yves Kino who was visiting Rwanda for the first time.
Niyigena’s confidence and humorous hospitality to the French tourist has attracted massive admiration and appreciation everywhere.
The genesis
In the heart of northern Rwanda – Gicumbi District, to be precise, the hills roll like waves under a cold weather. A young man – Donat Niyigena, pedals his bicycle through the snaky Gatuna-Kigali roads. Bicycle taxi is his only means of survival.
On his bicycle, he notices a white man riding an electric tricycle. It was a French tourist – Yves Kino – a French man who makes videos while traveling around the world with an electric trike.
Peering at the landscape with fascination, Kino is interrupted by a smiling Niyigena.
In English, they exchanged pleasantries. The tourist introduced himself as a traveler exploring the beauty of Rwanda.
Intrigued by Kino’s presence in his village, Niyigena realized that Kino was captivated by the Rwandan landscape.
The conversation went on in a cheerful mood.
But who is Donat Niyigena ushering a tourist into his country with a smile – despite the language barrier?
In the verdant hills of Gicumbi district, northern Rwanda, 23-year-old Niyigena wakes up before the sun, ready to embark on another day of hard work. Born into poverty, Niyigena knew the struggle of making ends meet in a land where opportunity often seemed out of reach.
Despite facing hardships, he remained resilient, determined to carve out a better life for himself and his family.
With the dawn painting the sky in hues of orange and gold, Niyigena mounts his bicycle, his trusty steed that serves as his livelihood. As a bicycle taxi operator, he navigates the winding roads of his village, ferrying passengers to their destinations with a steady hand and a warm smile.
Despite being a school dropout, he harbored a deep desire to continue his education, to learn and grow in knowledge. However, the harsh realities of life often stood in his way, forcing him to prioritize survival over his aspirations.
“I was born in a very poor family,” he told Isimbi TV in an interview. Niyigena’s parents hardly make a living. At times, they don’t even manage to put food on the table.
“I was born in a family of six, and I am the 3rd born and the only child who managed to complete primary school,” Niyigena narrated to Isimbi TV which visited him in his village shortly after Kino’s video of the two captured the attention of many.
When Niyigena sat for Primary school national examinations, he passed in the 3rd grade. However, poverty in the family cut short his dreams.
“I was very eager to study and transform my family, but this dream was cut short,” he says.
Isimbi TV transforms his life
During the interview, Niyigena expressed his desire to learn and obtain a driving license. However, he says, “I failed to register for driving license exams during to high financial requirements,” says Niyigena.
Immediately, surprise struck him when Isimbi TV journalist – Sabin Umurungi, offered him all the requirements to get a driving license. “This is God’s miracles done through you and Yves Kino. Thank you so much and may God bless you,” Niyigena said with a smile on his face.
Rwanda’s tourism ambassador
Overall, Rwanda’s tourism ambassador is a person who serves as a passionate advocate and spokesperson for the country’s tourism industry, promoting its unique attractions, fostering international partnerships, and working towards the sustainable development of the sector.
For Niyigena, despite his academic levels, he harbors all it takes to be a good tour guide. He only needs support and basic skills. Otherwise, his chat with Kino is a demonstration to this.
Meanwhile, amidst the hustle and bustle of Gicumbi life, Niyigena never thought his life could change once and for all – thanks to Yves Kino’s encounter and later on Isimbi TV that broke out his entire life cycle.
Are you a young Rwandan wishing to share a touching story? Write to us via email: sustainablecomms288@gmail.com or call us or send us WhatsApp message at: +250783767867
