Frida Umuhoza’s journey is one of survival, resilience and the power of community. Born in Rwanda, Frida was just 14 when her family was targeted during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. She became the sole survivor of her immediate family, a tragedy that would forever shape her life. But it is through this loss that Frida found her purpose: to use her voice to heal, educate and inspire.
“My story is to remind everybody that we all have a responsibility,” says Frida. “To not be a bystander when we see hate, racism, or discrimination.”
Frida’s story is not only about survival, but also about the power of reclaiming agency. She has become a powerful advocate, sharing her story in schools, churches, community groups, and at global forums including the United Nations in New York and the Shoah Memorial in Paris. Her bestselling memoir, Frida: Chosen to Die, Destined to Live, later revised as In the School of Resilience, chronicles her experiences and her belief in forgiveness and community.
“Be kind. Be patient. You don’t know what someone has been through. Even helping someone learn to use a bus card can make a huge difference, not just in that person’s life, but in the life of the next generation.”
“Each time I tell my story, I feel like I’m taking a little of the poison out,” she shares. “I’m disempowering the pain.”
In Australia, Frida has built a new community while staying deeply connected to her Rwandan roots. “I belong to this place, but home will always be home,” she says. “I’ve got to a point where I have two homes. But I make sure my children know where their roots are.”
Frida embodies this year’s campaign theme: Finding Freedom: Diversity in Community. She believes community is where we feel safe, accepted and able to give back. “When you lose your family at a young age, you learn the value of belonging. I had to work hard to find my community and offer something back.”
Her message to new arrivals in Australia is filled with hope: “It won’t always be this hard. Things will get easier. And ten years from now, you’ll be having a completely different conversation.”
