Memory Mdala, is a young poet and refugee from Burundi who lost her vision at an early age. She shares a clear message that, “Disability is not inability.”
Her writing is below:
From Darkness to Determination
My name is Memory Mdala. I am a 24-year-old refugee Burundi but currently living in Dzaleka Refugee Camp, Malawi. I was born in the camp after my parents fled conflict from Nyarugusu Refugee Camp in Tanzania and later settled in Malawi. Today, I am a single mother raising a beautiful daughter.
When I was just one year old, my mother noticed that I had serious vision problems. She took me to the hospital several times, hoping that treatment would restore my sight, but unfortunately my condition did not improve. By the age of five, doctors explained that I would gradually lose my vision.
Despite this challenge, I refused to give up on my education. I enrolled at a primary school for learners with visual impairment, where I received support with food and transportation. Through determination and hard work, I completed my primary education successfully.
In 2011, my father passed away. His death was a painful loss because he had been my greatest source of encouragement and support. Life became much more difficult for my family. Fortunately, the Malawi Council for the Handicapped (MACOHA) later assisted me so I could continue my education.
In 2015, I was selected to attend Chayamba Secondary School. Around that time, my family was forced to leave Dzaleka Refugee Camp because of land-related conflicts with local authorities. We relocated to Lilambwe Village, near the camp. The move meant that organizations supporting my education could no longer cover my school fees and transport. Despite these hardships, my mother worked tirelessly to ensure I remained in school, and I successfully completed my secondary education.
After passing my national examinations, I was admitted to Malawi University (formerly Chancellor College). My tuition fees were paid by There Is Hope, while NAWEZA supported my essential needs. Their support gave me the opportunity to pursue my dream of higher education.
In 2023, while I was still at university, I became pregnant. Although this was a difficult period in my life, I chose not to abandon my education. I continued studying until I gave birth to my daughter. Sadly, her father denied responsibility for both of us, and I also experienced rejection from his family. Even so, I remained determined to build a better future for my child.
To support myself and my daughter, I began writing poems and performing songs at different schools and community events. My talent became a source of income and hope during one of the most difficult seasons of my life.
I successfully graduated with a degree in Education, specializing in Social Studies and Humanities. I now volunteer with Partners Child, Youth and Women Development in Dzaleka Refugee Camp, where I serve my community by teaching both people with visual impairment and sighted learners. I read and write independently using Braille and other assistive technologies for people with blindness, and I get something I use for my living.
My greatest dream is to establish a restaurant that will provide a sustainable income for my family while creating employment opportunities for others in my community.
My journey has taught me that disability is not inability. Although I have experienced vision loss, the death of my father, displacement, rejection, and the challenges of single motherhood, I continue to rise with hope, determination, and faith. I believe that with the right support, I can achieve my dream and inspire many others to never give up.
I use Braille not because I cannot dream, but because it helps me turn my dreams into reality.
More than My Circumstances
2023 POEM
But I am not without hope.
I carry dreams that no border can stop,
And a heart that refuses to surrender.
I live with challenges,
Some seen, some hidden.
Each day is a battle,
Yet each day I choose to rise again.
Do not measure my life by the camp,
Or by the condition I carry.
Measure it by my courage,
By the love I give,
And by the hope I keep alive.
Every scar tells a story of survival.
Every tear waters the seeds of tomorrow.
Every setback teaches resilience,
And every sunrise brings another chance.
There are many like me
Children, mothers, fathers, and dreamers
Waiting not for pity,
But for opportunity.
We are more than refugees.
We are more than our illnesses.
We are voices waiting to be heard,
Hands ready to build,
And hearts determined to inspire.
One day, our stories will not be remembered for our suffering,
But for the courage with which we overcame it.
Because hope is stronger than fear,
Love is greater than hardship,
And the human spirit will always rise
HOPE LIVES HERE
But I am not a lost dream.
I am a seed planted in difficult soil,
Still reaching for the light.
I have seen fear,
Yet I choose courage.
I have known loss,
Yet I choose hope.
For hope is the one thing
No border can ever take away.
To every refugee who wonders,
“Will tomorrow be different?”
Keep believing.
The longest night
Still gives way to the dawn.
Our stories are not stories of defeat.
They are stories of resilience
Of mothers who never stop loving,
Of fathers who never stop providing,
Of children who never stop dreaming.
The world becomes stronger
When it chooses compassion over judgment,
A helping hand over a closed door,
And love over fear.
We may come from different nations,
Speak different languages,
And walk different paths,
But we all belong to one human family.
Let us build bridges instead of walls,
Hope instead of despair,
Peace instead of division.
For the strength of humanity
Is not measured by power or wealth,
But by how we lift those who have fallen.
I am a refugee.
I am resilient.
I am hope.
And as long as hope lives in one heart,
The world will always have a reason
To believe in tomorrow
I See With My Heart
During my graduation in 2026
But I see it through hope and dreams.
My vision may be different,
But my purpose remains strong.
I am a refugee child,
Carrying challenges others may not understand.
Yet inside me lives courage,
Strength, and a dream for tomorrow.
Education is my light,
Knowledge is my guide.
A book in my hands gives me power,
And a chance to build my future.
Do not see my blindness as a weakness.
See my determination,
See my abilities,
See the person I am becoming.
With support and opportunity,
I can learn, lead, and inspire.
Because true vision is not only what our eyes can see
It is the hope we carry in our hearts
JUL
2026
About the Author:
Ngoy Mbeshe Felly EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT DZALEKA HOME BASED CARE, NURSE AND HIV/AIDS/HBC PROVIDER