Léonie: I used to live in Kabezi and visit my brother in Musaga. It was during these visits that I would see his Nicodème. He was living close to my brother. I got to know his children. They would come to me and say, "Grandma, give us water, give us food." When the crisis started in 1993, I had to flee Kabezi and found refuge in my brother's home. I am still living there, in Musaga.

In 1994 the crisis intensified and the situation was worsening. The Hutu were being killed like goats in the slaughterhouse.

One day five young men came to our neighbourhood. They brought a container filled with fuel. They came to burn Nicodème and his children in their house.

Nicodème: Léonie had seen the killers and stopped them. They came with fuel they have stolen. They had even burned the car from which they took the fuel. They wanted to burn my house during the night, but Léonie noticed them. When she saw them, she shouted "Do not kill this man, his wife and his children. If you kill them, be sure you will be condemned."

After Léonie started, her brother and all her relatives, stood together and all shouted for help. The men with the fuel container did not kill us that night. I am sure that if Léonie and her family did not intervene, I would be killed together with my wife and children. Léonie chose to save us even though we are of a different ethnic group.