We keep in touch with many of our beneficiaries, not just over months but years.  Sometimes it can take that long for a beneficiary to get back on their feet, especially those who have been forced to flee their countries and settle elsewhere. 

We first met Lucie Umukundwa in 2006.  She was one of Rwanda's leading frontline journalists and had spent many years reporting on conflict and human rights issues across Africa's Great Lakes region for national and international radio and media organisations. 

Then, at a press conference in August 2006, Lucie questioned the Rwandan President on why journalists were being targeted by the authorities. That same day, military intelligence services visited her home, injured her brother and told the family that they would come back to kill her.

Although a single parent, Lucy had no choice but to flee Rwanda, leaving her two young young children, Pacifique and Collette, behind.

The Rory Peck Trust gave Lucy a grant to ensure that the children were properly cared for while their mother was exiled in France.  And as Lucy was desperate to continue working as a journalist despite the threats, we also helped cover the cost of a masters degree in journalism.

After a year in exile, Lucie was reunited with her children in Uganda and resumed work as a freelance journalist, gaining assignments with Voice of America and Agence International d'Image de Television.  The family has since moved back to France, where they hope to settle permanently.  Lucie continues to freelance with Voice of America and is also studying Humanitarian Law to bolster her expertise in Humanitarian reporting and increase her employment chances.