--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was six years old when the conflict…" description: "\"I was six years old when the conflict started in Rwanda.\" — Clemantine Wamariya" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d33/clemantine-wamariya-9617_conflict_i-was-six-years-old-when-the-conflict-st_1914478.jpg" --- # I was six years old when the conflict started in Rwanda. ![“I was six years old when the conflict started in Rwanda.” quote by Clemantine Wamariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d33/clemantine-wamariya-9617_conflict_i-was-six-years-old-when-the-conflict-st_1914478.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d33/clemantine-wamariya-9617_conflict_i-was-six-years-old-when-the-conflict-st_1914478.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d33/clemantine-wamariya-9617_conflict_i-was-six-years-old-when-the-conflict-st_1914478.jpg) > “I was six years old when the conflict started in Rwanda.” [Clemantine Wamariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clemantine-wamariya/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A child’s perspective of the Rwanda conflict, highlighting early trauma. **In simple terms:** Six‑year‑old witnessed war in Rwanda. Key Takeaway Acknowledge childhood trauma in conflict zones. Themes war childhood trauma Mood somber empathetic Type memoir testimonial When to use this quote - education - psychological support - peacebuilding Key Concepts memory resilience human rights Questions to Reflect On - How can we protect children in conflict? - What role does storytelling play in healing? A Different Perspective Children’s voices often ignored in war narratives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Conflict Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict-started-1707301/) [Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old/) [Old Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-conflict-2904182/) [Rwanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rwanda/) [Six](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/six/) [Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started/) [Started Rwanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-rwanda-2904181/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [ It was tricky \[to write about Israelis\], because everyone has an opinion about the Arab - Israeli conflict, and when I first started writing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-antopol/it-was-tricky-to-write-about-israelis-because-everyone-has-an-opinion/) [Molly Antopol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-antopol/) > [We could still have continued the arms race, but the arms race was pointless, and it was another reason we decided to start perestroika.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-gorbachev/we-could-still-have-continued-the-arms-race-but-the-arms-race-was/) [Mikhail Gorbachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-gorbachev/) > [Growing up in Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, I had a wonderful life, one that I have not experienced anywhere since, even after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clemantine-wamariya/growing-up-in-kigali-the-capital-city-of-rwanda-i-had-a-wonderful/) [Clemantine Wamariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clemantine-wamariya/) > [“What I learned in Rwanda was that God is not absent when great evil is unleashed. 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In fact, Mars is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-gourevitch/as-far-as-the-political-military-and-economic-interests-of-the-world/) [Philip Gourevitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-gourevitch/) > [I fell in love with Rwanda the moment I saw those verdant, rolling hills rise up beneath the wings of the plane as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-benaron/i-fell-in-love-with-rwanda-the-moment-i-saw-those-verdant-rolling/) [Naomi Benaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-benaron/) > [“George Bush made a mistake when he referred to the Saddam Hussein regime as 'evil.' Every liberal and leftist knows how to titter at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/george-bush-made-a-mistake-when-he-referred-to-the-saddam-hussein/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I know there is a God because in Rwanda I shook hands with the devil. I have seen him, I have smelled him and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rom-o-dallaire/i-know-there-is-a-god-because-in-rwanda-i-shook-hands-with-the-devil/) [Roméo Dallaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rom-o-dallaire/) > [Perhaps we have failed as human beings. Perhaps we have embarrassed ourselves to the natural world. We have been rigorous and willful in all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sufjan-stevens/perhaps-we-have-failed-as-human-beings-perhaps-we-have-embarrassed/) [Sufjan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sufjan-stevens/) > [“We are preaching hope, standing on the bones of the past.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rucyahana/we-are-preaching-hope-standing-on-the-bones-of-the-past/) [John Rucyahana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rucyahana/) ## More by Clemantine Wamariya > [If we believe that a person seeking refuge is to be pitied, feared, despised, and looked down upon, we are doing ourselves a disservice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clemantine-wamariya/if-we-believe-that-a-person-seeking-refuge-is-to-be-pitied-feared/) [Clemantine Wamariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clemantine-wamariya/) > [No matter what is happening in your life, you always offer tea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clemantine-wamariya/no-matter-what-is-happening-in-your-life-you-always-offer-tea/) [Clemantine Wamariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clemantine-wamariya/) > [Always strive to be a better you for you and for other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clemantine-wamariya/always-strive-to-be-a-better-you-for-you-and-for-other/) [Clemantine Wamariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clemantine-wamariya/) > [If you want to learn about the history of a people, eat their food and drink their beverages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clemantine-wamariya/if-you-want-to-learn-about-the-history-of-a-people-eat-their-food-and/) [Clemantine Wamariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clemantine-wamariya/) > [My day-to-day varies. I do some public speaking. I talk to school groups.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clemantine-wamariya/my-day-to-day-varies-i-do-some-public-speaking-i-talk-to-school-groups/) [Clemantine Wamariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clemantine-wamariya/) > [Make your education personal. When it matters to you, you will show up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clemantine-wamariya/make-your-education-personal-when-it-matters-to-you-you-will-show-up/) [Clemantine Wamariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clemantine-wamariya/) > [To the young girl who fails to see opportunities around her: Awaken the intellectual curiosity within you. Go on, search for those opportunities and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clemantine-wamariya/to-the-young-girl-who-fails-to-see-opportunities-around-her-awaken/) [Clemantine Wamariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clemantine-wamariya/) > [I am thankful to those who've listened to my story over and over as well as those who've helped me share it. For me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clemantine-wamariya/i-am-thankful-to-those-who-ve-listened-to-my-story-over-and-over-as/) [Clemantine Wamariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clemantine-wamariya/) > [Being able to connect with other humans is something I've done since I was little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clemantine-wamariya/being-able-to-connect-with-other-humans-is-something-i-ve-done-since/) [Clemantine Wamariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clemantine-wamariya/) > [Sharing presumes and creates equality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clemantine-wamariya/sharing-presumes-and-creates-equality/) [Clemantine Wamariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clemantine-wamariya/) > [The idea of somebody suffering is really painful to every human. In our collective language, we all too often see those who are suffering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clemantine-wamariya/the-idea-of-somebody-suffering-is-really-painful-to-every-human-in/) [Clemantine Wamariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clemantine-wamariya/) > [It's taken a lot of years for me to learn how to share my story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clemantine-wamariya/it-s-taken-a-lot-of-years-for-me-to-learn-how-to-share-my-story/) [Clemantine Wamariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clemantine-wamariya/) > [We are all neighbors. Be kind. Be gentle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clemantine-wamariya/we-are-all-neighbors-be-kind-be-gentle/) [Clemantine Wamariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clemantine-wamariya/) > [Set goals but be flexible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clemantine-wamariya/set-goals-but-be-flexible/) [Clemantine Wamariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clemantine-wamariya/) > [Everything I own in my closet has a story. Stuff is not just stuff - things were given to me with love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clemantine-wamariya/everything-i-own-in-my-closet-has-a-story-stuff-is-not-just-stuff/) [Clemantine Wamariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clemantine-wamariya/) [Explore all 71 Clemantine Wamariya quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clemantine-wamariya/) ## More Conflict quotes > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The U.S.-Mexican border es un herida abierta where the Third World grates against the first and bleeds. And before a scab forms it hemorrhages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/the-u-s-mexican-border-es-un-herida-abierta-where-the-third-world/) [Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/) > [There is a conflict in the Middle East between two entities, and they're both right, each in their own way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reuven-rivlin/there-is-a-conflict-in-the-middle-east-between-two-entities-and-they/) [Reuven Rivlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reuven-rivlin/) > [Conflict isn't negative, it just is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-crum/conflict-isn-t-negative-it-just-is/) [Thomas Crum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-crum/) > [I have lived in countries that were coming out of conflict: Ireland, South Africa, the Czech republic. People there are overflowing with energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/i-have-lived-in-countries-that-were-coming-out-of-conflict-ireland/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [Africa, being the major target of colonial plunder, therefore becomes a major source of conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-horne/africa-being-the-major-target-of-colonial-plunder-therefore-becomes-a/) [Gerald Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-horne/) > [All drama is conflict. Without conflict, there is no action. Without action, there is no character. Without character, there is no story. And without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd-field/all-drama-is-conflict-without-conflict-there-is-no-action-without/) [Syd Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd-field/) > [The irrepressible conflict propounded by abolitionism has produced now its legitimate fruits - disunion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-irrepressible-conflict-propounded-by-abolitionism-has-produced/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“These are all good things, I said. But no one knows where your country is or who you are. You don't have a familiar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/these-are-all-good-things-i-said-but-no-one-knows-where-your-country/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [I understand the formula that producers hire directors and directors are hired to direct and actors are hired to act. I don't have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-trejo/i-understand-the-formula-that-producers-hire-directors-and-directors/) [Danny Trejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-trejo/) > [“While there is battle and hatred men have eyes for nothing save the fact that the enemy is the cause of all the troubles;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-butterfield/while-there-is-battle-and-hatred-men-have-eyes-for-nothing-save-the/) [Herbert Butterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-butterfield/) > [UN peacekeeping operations are now increasingly complex and multi-dimensional, going beyond monitoring a ceasefire to actually bringing failed States back to life, often after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/un-peacekeeping-operations-are-now-increasingly-complex-and-multi/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [All men have an instinct for conflict: at least, all healthy men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/all-men-have-an-instinct-for-conflict-at-least-all-healthy-men/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [I didnt like the Survivor shows because of the mean-spirited aspect, and women certainly were part of whatever conflict they would create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-lawrence/i-didnt-like-the-survivor-shows-because-of-the-mean-spirited-aspect/) [Sharon Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-lawrence/) > [“How we traverse the space between us when conflict arises has a profound effect on the health and longevity of our relationships.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/how-we-traverse-the-space-between-us-when-conflict-arises-has-a/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) [Browse all 3,969 Conflict quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was six years old when the conflict started in Rwanda.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Clemantine Wamariya" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clemantine-wamariya/i-was-six-years-old-when-the-conflict-started-in-rwanda/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conflict" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clemantine-wamariya/i-was-six-years-old-when-the-conflict-started-in-rwanda/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d33/clemantine-wamariya-9617_conflict_i-was-six-years-old-when-the-conflict-st_1914478.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d33/clemantine-wamariya-9617_conflict_i-was-six-years-old-when-the-conflict-st_1914478.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d33/clemantine-wamariya-9617_conflict_i-was-six-years-old-when-the-conflict-st_1914478.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was six years old when the conflict started in Rwanda.” — Clemantine Wamariya", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Clemantine Wamariya", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clemantine-wamariya/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was six years old when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clemantine-wamariya/i-was-six-years-old-when-the-conflict-started-in-rwanda/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clemantine-wamariya/i-was-six-years-old-when-the-conflict-started-in-rwanda/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```