New Hope to Reunite Displaced Families in the East and Horn of Africa
iGiTREE was born out of this urgent need, a platform that blends modern technology with compassion to reconnect families who thought they were lost forever. By combining DNA tracing with family data, the platform offers displaced people and diaspora communities a chance to rediscover their roots and rebuild bonds across borders. One of the most moving examples is Josephine Birungi, from a family that was separated for over 60 years. Through iGiTREE, she was able to find and reunite her with relatives, a living testimony to the platform’s mission of healing broken family lines. While the journey is not without challenges, from resource demands to the complexity of managing sensitive data, iGiTREE continues to grow as a beacon of hope. Beyond Rwanda, the vision is to reach across the region, reconnecting countless others who share this painful history. Every reunion is more than a success story; it is the restoration of identity, belonging, and community. At iGiTREE, we believe that no one should live without knowing their family, and every step we take brings us closer to that goal.
Tracing My Roots: A Journey Through Four Generations
Ever since I was a child, I was fascinated by the stories my grandmother told me. She would often sit by the fire and recount tales of our ancestors—some who were warriors, others farmers, and a few who ventured far from home, chasing dreams of a better life. But it wasn't until I turned 25 that I began seriously tracing my family tree. What started as a weekend hobby soon turned into a passion. I interviewed elders, dug through handwritten letters, and eventually turned to digital archives to piece together the puzzle of my lineage. My great-grandfather, Emmanuel, migrated from Rwanda to the Congo in the 1940s. He was a quiet man, but his journey changed the direction of our family's future. I never knew that part of my heritage had roots in the Great Lakes region until I found his baptism record tucked away in an old family Bible. One of the most emotional discoveries came when I found a photograph of my great-great-grandmother, Anitha. She had 11 children, and despite the hardships of the colonial period, she was known in the village for her wisdom and fairness. Her descendants now live across three continents—proof of the resilience and reach of one woman’s legacy. This journey through time didn’t just teach me names and dates. It helped me understand who I am and what I carry forward. It reminded me that every family tree has branches that twist in unexpected ways, but every branch holds a story worth telling.