Honorary graduates

2015

Esther Mujawayo-Keiner


Honorary Degree of Doctor of Social Science in recognition of her significant and compassionate contribution to the care of the victims of genocide.

Esther Mujawayo-Keiner

 

Esther Mujawayo-Keiner grew up in Rwanda and became a school-teacher before studying in Belgium and graduating with a Master’s degree in social work and sociology.

Back home she taught again, worked for Oxfam and with women’s organisations. In 1994, during the Rwandan Civil War, her husband and many of their family members were among hundreds of thousands murdered in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. With other widows, she founded AVEGA Agahozo, an organisation to support the survivors of genocide.  

In the UK, she studied therapeutic education and returned as a trauma therapist. She is now based at the Psychosocial Centre for Refugees, Dusseldorf, where she lives with her second husband and family. As an author and conference speaker she promotes action with compassion for refugees.