Sandra Uwiringiyimana '13

After attending public schools over the years, Sandra Uwiringiyimana ’13 came to Mercy in 2008 eager to better her life and the world around her. 

Without the means to pay for private schooling, Sandra was grateful to receive a scholarship through Mercy’s Frances Warde Fund, an endowment that provides need-based aid to young women who are recent immigrants to the United States. The Fund is named for Frances Warde, a foundress of the Sisters of Mercy in the Americas and herself an immigrant from Ireland. From her first day at Mercy, Sandra demonstrated perseverance and ambition, skills that served her well throughout her five years at Mercy. 

Before arriving in America, Sandra survived a harrowing rebel attack in Burundi, Africa that claimed the lives of 166 refugees including her sister, two cousins, and aunt. Sandra returned to Mercy in 2018 as a newly published author of the critically acclaimed memoir How Dare the Sun Rise to share her story with students and guests. 

“Without the educational foundation I received at Mercy, I really do not think that I would have been able to write this book, or even think I could write a book,” said Sandra.

Mercy is extraordinarily fortunate that Sandra was a part of the Mercy family for five years. She continues to raise awareness about the injustices that led to her family’s displacement, including launching the Jimbere Fund in 2017 aimed at revitalizing distressed communities and fostering peace in the Congo. Sandra‘s resilience and success is an inspiration to all members of the Mercy community, especially future generations of Mercy Girls.