One humanity, one hope:
- The International
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
An evening with Marguerite Barankitse of Maison Shalom.
Text: Anna Pawlowicz Pics: Maison Shalom
On the evening of 15 May, the French Embassy in Copenhagen became the stage for a powerful reminder of our shared humanity. Hosted by the Danish Justice Foundation, the event brought together diplomats, human rights advocates, and members of the public to support Maison Shalom, a beacon of peace and dignity founded by Marguerite "Maggy" Barankitse. Maggy herself was present – radiant and disarmingly honest - as she spoke about her life’s work: restoring dignity to children and communities devastated by violence.
It was not just a fundraising evening, but a gathering of conscience. The embassy’s grand rooms echoed with stories of survival and hope, and the quiet urgency of continuing this work in the face of diminishing international aid.
A house of peace born from atrocity
Maison Shalom was born in the shadow of civil war and genocide. In October 1993, amid the horrors of ethnic violence in Burundi, Maggy witnessed unspeakable atrocities. In a conversation following the fundraising event in Copenhagen, Maggy shared with us how one encounter with perpetrators became her life’s turning point. Her friend Juliette, facing imminent death, entrusted her two young daughters to Maggy’s care. “Raise my children like a mother,” Juliette said. Maggy promised she would.
“I told her, no one can replace a mother. But if they don't kill me, I will raise your daughters like my own.” Today, those two girls – Lisette and Lydia – are Canadian citizens with university degrees and bright futures. “I acted on my promise and made sure that from horror came hope.”
But Maison Shalom was never just an orphanage. “I didn’t create it to welcome orphans,” she insisted. “I created it to break the cycle of violence. To raise future leaders with love, with dignity, and with values, because these are the leaders our region needs.” From that vision came not only family homes, but schools, a cinema, a microfinance bank, and a hospital where, for eight years now, no mother has died giving birth.
Faith and love in action
Asked how she remains hopeful despite witnessing the worst of humanity, Maggy’s answer is simple and profound. “I can’t hide that I am a Christian. I believe we are one human family, and we all have one reason to live: it is to love.”
This belief is not abstract for her. It guides every action, from the warmth of her embrace to the structure of her programs. “I meet many people in my life, and I believe that whether you are a refugee or a president, you are my brother, my sister. We may come from different parts of the world, but we are all equal.”
"We are one humanity,” she said with conviction. “When one part suffers - whether it's a child in Burundi, a mother in Rwanda, or a refugee anywhere in the world - that suffering is felt in the heart of our shared humanity."
Dignity beyond aid
Dignity is the thread that weaves through everything Maison Shalom does. For Maggy, it’s not about charity. It’s about justice. “Refugees are not just beneficiaries,” she says. “They are human beings with voices, needs, and rights. Too often, international organisations decide what people need without asking them.”
She recalls how children in war-torn Kosovo received chocolate and fresh goods from aid packages, while African children were given what “other people’s children wouldn’t eat.” “Why?” she asks. “A child is a child. We are all human.”
Maggy refuses to create typical orphanages because she believes children deserve to be part of a family. “When a child grows up in a centre, they are labelled ‘an orphan.’ However, we know that what they truly need is a sense of family and identity. They need to belong. That’s exactly why we invest funds in research and due diligence that helps us find families for our children.”
Today’s struggles
Maison Shalom now supports refugees from Burundi, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, and South Sudan, primarily in Rwanda. Their primary challenge at present is related to resources and funding. “When USAID stopped, all the international aid organisations left. But the needs didn’t leave,” Maggy explained. Many children require medical support, prosthetics, education, and nutritious food, but the available resources are dwindling.
The second challenge is more long-term: education. “To break the cycle of violence in the Great Lakes region, we need leaders with values like compassion, dignity, and love,” she said. “That’s why I built a school, and we need support to take this education to the next level.”
A message for Denmark
As our conversation drew to a close, Maggy offered a message for anyone willing to listen with an open heart: “We are one humanity,” she said with conviction. “When one part suffers - whether it's a child in Burundi, a mother in Rwanda, or a refugee anywhere in the world - that suffering is felt in the heart of our shared humanity.”
Maggy’s vision is not one of pity, but of kinship. She invites us to remember that behind every label - refugee, orphan, victim - there is a brother, a sister, a child who deserves the same dignity, opportunity, and love that we wish for our own families.
“Let us support each other,” she said, “not out of obligation, but out of love.”
It is not just a call to action. It is a reminder of who we are and who we can become.
If you’re reading this and want to help, Maggy urges you to contact the Chairman of Maison Shalom’s Board, Silas Majambere (simajambere@gmail.com). You can also visit the Maison Shalom’s website, where you can find ways to support the organisation or make a direct donation. All donations directly fund education, healthcare, housing, and support for children who have lost everything.
