Transcript for After the Rain
Audio description: Text appears: In Rwanda, changes in weather patterns have caused rains to be stronger and heavier.
Audio description: A flooded road with significant damage. People walk along the damaged road. Text appears: Torrential downpours have washed away roads and destroyed homes.
Audio description: Florentine Mukantagwera, from the Gakenke District, Northern Province, sits and gestures while speaking.
Florentine: My wish is to have a well-roofed house because it rains in and out.
Audio description: A flooded road next to houses. Text appears: In 2023, floods in Rwanda devastated the country’s Western and Northern provinces, leaving about 130 people dead.
Florentine: When the flood happened…
Audio description: A makeshift metal bridge over a fast-flowing, muddy stream. People work to clear mud and debris from a flooded area.
Florentine: I was here alone.
Audio description: A large section of land has been eroded, revealing a steep slope of exposed earth and rocks.
Florentine: I heard people in the mountains shouting and crying that they are dying.
Audio description: The interior of a small, sparsely furnished room. A mosquito net hangs over a bed.
Florentine: I wondered, What if my house falls on me? The whole yard was water, and it started to fall in the house through the roof.
Audio description: A view of the interior of a damaged roof. Water damage is visible. Catheline Nyiramanzi, Florentine’s neighbor, sits on a wooden bench and speaks to the camera.
Catheline: As her neighbor, I wish her a safe house because she lives in a crushed house due to its old and heavy rain.
Audio description: Florentine sits outside her house, appearing to throw a rain covering over her belongings.
Catheline: As a person with a disability, this flood and landslides have doubly affected her life.
Audio description: Interior of a simple room with a bed and a mosquito net. Text appears: During the Rwandan genocide in 1994, Florentine and her family fled to Congo. Ten years later, they returned to the demolished house she lives in.
Audio description: A young man gathers leaves in a metal bowl. Text appears: Ten years ago, she lost control of her motor functions after contracting tuberculosis. She relies on her neighbors and son for survival.
Audio description: Eric Niyogisubizo, Florentine’s son, sits and speaks to the camera
Eric: I really want to continue my studies. I tried all my best, and I ended in primary six to care about my mother.
Audio description: Eric brings a bowl of food to Florentine.
Florentine: My neighbors cultivate for me without my request, and they give me beans from their houses.
Audio description: Two women bring a blanket to Florentine.
Florentine: I sit here and find them providing me food and porridge.
Audio description: Florentine sits by a small fire, preparing food.
Florentine: There is a Bible verse saying that, “For I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, naked, and you clothed me. Ill, and you cared for me.” You cannot imagine how much that polish relieved me.
Audio description: The Disability Justice Project logo, featuring a bright yellow letter D with a triangular play button in the center, appears on a black background.
