Narrative inquiry into life experiences of refugee women and men

BACKGROUND: Africa is the site of many refugee camps, and non-governmental agencies are often responsible for providing programmes and services to improve refugees' quality of life and health in temporary encampments. Rwanda hosts three refugee camps as a result of the 1994 genocide. AIM: This research examines meaningful life experiences as narrated by women and men Congolese refugees residing in a refugee camp in Rwanda. METHODS: Two in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 refugee men and 14 refugee women. Content in the research text was analysed separately by gender. FINDINGS: Women's experiences revealed themes of leaving the good life behind, worrying about their daughters, feeling ambivalent about marriage and lacking hope. Men's experiences revealed themes of leaving the good life behind, having no peace in the heart and fearing the future. CONCLUSIONS: Listening to refugee voices in narrated life experiences provides an opportunity for non-governmental organizations to create programmes and services that pertain closely to refugees' life experiences.