Cynthia came to Korea from Burundi. She is raising her son Noah, works to help other refugees, and serves as an honorary ambassador for Burundi in Gyeonggi Province.
This story comes from a MAP Refugee News interview in 2024. Cynthia’s own words are kept as she said them.
Life as a single mom: “I put Noah first!”
After giving birth to Noah in 2019, I tried to find part-time work near Ansan. Unfortunately, the hours didn’t align with daycare hours. I even looked for work in Busan, but it felt too risky to work far from the hospital. I had a risk of shock due to asthma and pneumonia. Eventually, I had to return to Seoul and continued my efforts to find both a job and daycare.
Many people advised me to find a job first and then look for a daycare near the workplace. However, my priority was Noah. I believed that my life could improve only if Noah’s life was stable. Therefore, I focused on finding a daycare where Noah could adjust well before the job hunt. In the new place, Noah found good teachers and made friends with kids from Burundi.
If I had prioritized my job, Noah would have had to adapt to different locations based on where I worked. By putting Noah first, I was able to pursue opportunities that would lead to a better life for both of us.
Personal development and work
As Noah adapted to changes and became stabilized, I felt that I could now live my own life. I didn’t want to become complacent with receiving subsidies and not striving for improvement. I wanted to work. I’ve been working part-time until the end of 2023 when I learned about MAP and applied for it. This experience can be considered as the biggest turning point in my life.
I’ve engaged in a lot of different things in MAP. I worked as a Korean teacher at a Korean language school. I was able to seize this opportunity because I consistently studied Korean. I achieved KIIP level 5, despite facing many difficulties such as financial issues and caring for Noah.
Meanwhile, I participated in one event via MAP. I connected with the Gyeonggi-do Foreign Support Center and received a new job offer recommended by a public official from Gyeonggi-do. That was the role of the Burundi Ambassador. I was recommended because of my efforts to help refugees, provide necessary information, and my ability to speak various languages. Thankfully, my director Young-ah actively recommended me, so I am currently working as an ambassador in Gyeonggi Province.
Helping other refugees
I want to continue helping refugees who are struggling to live in Korea. It took almost ten years for me to overcome the adaptation process on my own without external help. Based on my experiences, I want to help other refugees adapt to Korean society more quickly. My ambassador activities began in this context. While representing the country of Burundi, I also want to help refugees from neighboring countries like Uganda and Rwanda.
I also want to continue my studies. In addition to furthering my Korean language skills, I plan to enroll in university. I aim to keep working towards better lives for refugees and to be a voice advocating for them.
Cynthia’s message
“Fight for yourself.”
“If I show negative things in me, that will put me in a negative life. I choose to be positive.”
“Maintain an attitude of exploring and learning new things rather than staying in one place.”