ARCHES_winter_spring_F.pdf

Empowering
Future Leaders
“No matter where
you are, never
forget your home.”
Bellansira
Horusenga
W
hen Bellansira Horusenga turns her dazzling smile
in your direction, you might think that happiness
and good fortune have always been part of her life.
Sadly, that is not so.
The green hills of East Tennessee are a stark contrast to the
refugee camp where Bellansira – or Bella, for short – was born and
spent most of her 20 years.
Bella’s family is from Burundi, a country in Africa, but she
was born in Zimbabwe; her parents fled Burundi during war and
genocide in the 1990s. Two of her sisters still live in Africa – one
in Malawi and one in Zimbabwe – but her parents, a brother and
sister live in Knoxville now; another sister lives in Kentucky.
Bella has been in the United States since July 15, 2009. The
International Organization for Migration helped the family
immigrate; they were living in a refugee camp before coming here
when she was 15. She said the process “takes forever,” but is well
worth the time and energy put forth to allow the family to make
a future. Bella is the youngest in her family.
Bella is in her second year at Tennessee Wesleyan College,
where she is studying nursing.
A graduate of Fulton High School in Knox County, she came to
TWC through the Emerald Youth Foundation, a Christian, urban
youth ministry in Knoxville that serves more than 1,400 children,
teens and young adults each year. Each year, the Emerald Youth
Foundation selects 10 to 15 graduating high school students – like
Bella – as Emerald Youth Fellows; the goal is to empower them
as adult leaders.
It was Bella’s Emerald Youth Foundation mentor who
encouraged her to attend TWC; when she graduated from high
school, she was looking at her options and decided to follow her
mentor’s advice.
Several family members have been to Athens to visit Bella and
TWC’s campus. She said her siblings all want to continue their
education, and they encouraged her to stay in school.
While Bella once most anticipated leaving the refugee camp
behind, she now looks forward to graduating from TWC.
“No matter what, I will graduate,” Bella said.
Once she achieves that goal and finds a job, she might go back
to Zimbabwe and help people there.
“My passion is to help,” Bella said.
Returning to Africa is important to Bella and ties in with what
her mother has told her: “No matter where you are, never forget
your home.” Another goal is to bring her two sisters who are still
in Africa to America, so the family can be reunited.
Bella is a work-study student, working in the office of Gail
Rogers, assistant to TWC President Dr. Harley Knowles. She
helps with duties related to Rogers’ work with Knowles and Larry
Wallace, assistant to the President for Special Projects. Bella assists
in preparing Board of Trustees information and meeting packets,
along with other tasks, working 12 to 15 hours each week.
In addition to her studies, Bella sings in the choir and, when she
has free time, she visits with her family via Skype.
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