Kids & Family

Refugee Sisters Graduate in Milwaukee

WAUWATOSA, WI -- Two Congolese sisters, refugees from brutal conflict in both the Congo and Uganda, will graduate high school in Milwaukee next week, WISN TV reported.

Giselle Irankunda and Delpehine Ingabire were born into violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, one of Africa’s most afflicted countries. They tried to flee, but only made it to yet another conflict zone: Uganda. After years of bureaucracy and red tape, their family finally arrived in the United States under refugee status.

“These two girls are pretty amazing,” Brian Schneider, guidance director at South Division High where the sisters attend school, told WISN TV. But their future was still at stake. When Uganda refused to release their academic transcripts, Schneider helped get a hold of them, assuring the girls a chance at college.

Next year, Giselle will study accounting, hoping to help families with financial planning, and Delpehine will pursue civil engineering. She hopes to one day take what she learns and return to her home country, fixing the road systems in the Congo.

“Everything in life, you have to work hard,” said Delpehine. “You need to be focused. You need to work hard.”


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