Refugee girl in Malawi defies odds, qualifies as medica doctor

July 26, 2016 Alfred Chauwa – Nyasa Times 38 Comments

A girl who came to Malawi at the age of six and lived almost all her teenage life in a refugee camp before qualifying for Malawi’s Zodiak Best Girl Award schorlarships to study medicine in 2009 returned Thursday  from China as a qualified medical doctor.

Qualified doctor now
Qualified doctor now

There were tears of joy from Dr. Mirreille Twayigira and the group of about 50 members of the refugee community at Dzaleka when the girl, now 24, emerged from her plane at Kamuzu International Airport six years after she left for studies in China.

Her life has virtually changed from that of a refugee from a war-torn country to a happy medical doctor ready to serve and save the suffering.

Dr. Twaigira is one of a list of beneficiaries of Zodiak Girls’ Award scholarship obtained through the Chinese Embassy.

“I am so thankful for all this and hope to put my skills to good use and for the benefit of human beings.

“There are processes I must follow before I begin practising in Malawi. But I guess my internship will be at Kamuzu Central Hospital,” she said.

Six years ago a little refugee girl aged 18 went through Kamuzu International Airport out on her first ever flight to the peoples’ Republic of China to study medicine.

Now she is a medical doctor.

“Our Mirreille is back. She is now a medical doctor. We are so excited and thankful to Zodiak for this initiative in the partnership with China. Look, this girl is transformed.

“And to think this is happening so far away from home, we feel really welcome here,” her uncle said.

Before going to China, she was studying at Catholic School Likuni Secondary school where she came out tops with six points.

She automatically qualified for Zodiak Best Girl Award initiative in 2009-10 where she studied medicine at Hebei University .

Dr. Twayigira is not without advice to young girls still in school and going through challenges. She says the answer is work and work and work hard.

The ZODIAK Best Girl Award initiative was mooted in 2006 and has so far benefitted 31 young girls with scholarships to China, Russia and the USA.

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38 replies on “Refugee girl in Malawi defies odds, qualifies as medica doctor”

  2. She is an African hence a Malawian country of origin yavichi? Ah!a! Originality yavichi? This is Africa.

  3. Congrats! But remember to serve the country that kept you, schooled you, and gave you the opportunity to be what you are….

  5. she is originally from my home town in Rwanda. She actually went to study medicine in China on a Malawian passport, so she acquired Malawian nationality. I am so proud of her

  6. 31 girls huh? I wonder how accurate those statics are buy anyway.
    Am happy for this girl, Way to go, so glad that God saw her through,made a way that transformed her life.

    1. Why do you have to be negative all the time. Not every Malawian is as corrupt as you think. There decent people out there contributing positively to humanity.

  8. This is a brilliant and law abiding refugee girl who never burnt classrooms and books or staged sit-ins at Likuni girls than our stupid Emmie Kaliya and mtambo and john chisi girl / boy inspires!!!! at chanco poly kcn

  11. Im lost here, what odds did she defy? Refugees are allowed to go to school, she came at a very young, she went to one of the best schools in Nyasaland, she is intelligent, was given a scholarship! Just which odds did she defy?

    1. do you even know what its like to be a refugee, the kinda conditions refugees live in. Not to mention the irreparable damage refugees have endured due to wars in their countries. The families and friends lost during such wars. People leave their homes, land, and an entire life they had built for themselves in hopes of living to see another day. Refugees live in the worst imaginable conditions and this young lady made it through despite all that. How is that for defying odds?!!!

  12. Its a good article but the writer forgets to include her nationality which makes him or her a terrible writer. The story should also inspire her own people. What a stuff up

    1. she is originally from my home town in Rwanda. She actually went to study medicine in China on a Malawian passport, so she acquired Malawian nationality. I am so proud of her

  15. This is a good story. I hope the government will give her a scholarship. If she decides to go back to her country, it will be a great loss to Malawi. Can I urge Zodiak that such competitions should be confined to Malawi citizens?

    1. She is from Rwanda! Lived together in the camp before we all left for other countries too! Proud of her achievement.

      1. Rwanda and Burundi have similar names since both countries are populated by Tutsis and Hutus. That aside congratulations to her and the Government of China. Canada is also doing a great job by sending many refugees from Dzaleka to universities in Canada through WUSC.

    2. O………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………O
      I hoped to see and thus searched for the same (in the story) but never saw it.
      . . . the reporter never even cared to tell us, yet such a detail is as important as the story itself.
      But when I googled the name “Twayigira,” the country Rwanda pops up, more often than not.
      . . . However, whether or not, we can infer that she is from Rwanda, is another matter.
      O……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….O

    1. Give her a citizen? Who said she isn’t a Malawian? Having gone through some primary edu and Likuni Secondary School, she has stayed in the country for over 7yyyy and she has been naturalized!

  19. Wow!!!! her dream has come true.. proud of you gal. its an inspiration to other refugees n girls.

  20. Congratulations girl. You have made Malawi proud. Ena akananamizila umphawi mpakana hyna kuwatafuna ku nsanje..

  27. Zodiak this is a commendable initiative indeed! we are so happy as a nation for the fruits it now bears…You are the ‘salt of the earth’ around you.

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