Fernand Rwanteli Joseph Muvuna Fernand Rwanteli, left, and Joseph Muvuna poses at Bishop Gorman High School. Though they can’t participate in league games, the pair still works out and practices with the school’s basketball team. Photos by Jessica Fryman/R-Jeneration.

Now 17, Fernand Rwanteli remembers people everywhere crying. At such a young age, Rwanteli has already experienced more devastation in his lifetime than most people ever will.

Moving to Rwanda after the genocide that claimed the lives of an estimated 800,000 people within about 100 days, Rwanteli is a witness to utter despair.

"It was so hard to see, especially when you know you can't help them," said Rwanteli.

With a dream to play basketball and attend school in America, the 6-foot-11-inch Rwanteli moved to Mississippi last year to begin his sophomore year in high school.

At just 16, Rwanteli started his struggle to learn English, meet new friends and become accustomed to a completely different lifestyle. And he did it all alone.

He moved to America, leaving his father in Rwanda and other immediate family members in various countries.

After experiencing the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide, Rwanteli faced tragedy again when he moved to Mississippi directly following Hurricane Katrina.

"To me, it (looked) the same as in Africa," Rwanteli said. "I was surprised. I didn't know I could see a place like that in America."

Rwanteli's idea of a perfect American life as seen in the media quickly changed at the sight of Katrina's destruction.

Along with many buildings in the area, his new school had been severely damaged. The education he so desperately wanted was now unavailable.

While in Mississippi, Rwanteli started having severe migraines and losing weight from his already thin frame.

As Rwanteli battled malnutrition and the aftermath of Katrina, 17-year-old Joseph Muvuna was getting accustomed to his new American life in Las Vegas.

The 6-foot-8-inch Muvuna was a basketball teammate of Rwanteli when they lived in Rwanda; Muvuna came to Las Vegas to live with the Rev. Paul Goulet and his wife, Denise, in August 2005.

The Goulets were in Rwanda at the time of the genocide, and after witnessing the horrific scene, they knew they had to help. The couple was trying to bring a student from the Ivory Coast to the United States, which fell through. When they heard Muvuna wanted to come to America, they welcomed him into their home.

Muvuna began attending Bishop Gorman High School as a sophomore with their son, Sam, at the start of the 2005-2006 school year.

The Goulets invited Rwanteli to visit for the holidays, so Muvuna could have the company of a friend. When the Goulets heard of his situation in Mississippi, they decided to enroll Rwanteli at Bishop Gorman that semester. The Goulets are now the legal guardians of both boys.

Although Rwanteli still has chronic headaches, he has already gained weight and is much healthier.

The boys enjoy attending Gorman and have made several friends, despite the initial language barrier.

"What I've noticed of students I've seen from other countries, Joe and Fernand seem to have been able to assimilate and become friends with students their own age much more easily," said James Machinski, a French teacher. "I think that it has to do a lot with the fact that each has a great sense of humor. They have a wonderful approach to life."

It is their approach to life that has already touched the lives of so many in the short time they have been here. Both Muvuna and Rwanteli are an example of determination to their classmates.

The boys were an asset to their French IV class last year, as French is their native language.

"With their knowledge of the language it was so helpful to the other students when it came to writing and performing skits in front of the class," said Machiniski. "They brought an element that just (wasn't possible) without their being there."

The boys are also doing well in their other courses, which is apparent through their grades. Muvuna has managed to maintain about a 3.4 grade-point average; Rwanteli is also excelling in his classes despite not learning English until his arrival to the States one year ago.

Both boys were disappointed to learn that they will be ineligible to play basketball with their school in league games. Although the boys already sat out for one season, concern over their eligibility sparked much controversy regarding rules against recruiting players and other issues. It was agreed to allow the boys' participation in non-conference games.

"Even with the controversy that they have caused, we wouldn't change the fact that they're here and that they've been given an opportunity to be part of the Bishop Gorman community," said Grant Rice, Gorman's head coach.

The boys are still considered part of the basketball team and participate in practices and traveling.

"They definitely needed to improve their skills when they got here," added Rice. "They both have been working hard on the court and in the weight room."

When not playing basketball, Muvuna and Rwanteli spend their time as regular teenagers do, listening to hip-hop music, watching movies and hanging out with their friends.

America and Rwanda have their differences, but not as many as some students may think.

"People think I was living in a forest with tigers. They think we didn't have a house," laughed Muvuna. "We have everything they have here, (but) we don't have McDonalds (and) we don't eat in the car."

At school in Rwanda, instead of students roving to each of their classes, a different teacher for each subject goes to the class, and between 11 and 16 different subjects are taught per week.

Adjusting to their new school and country had its challenges, but both boys have adapted quickly. The most difficult part in moving to America was their separation from friends and family. The boys communicate with them via computer or telephone when possible.

"I didn't expect to have a lot of friends here. Everyone was interesting and they wanted to know about me," said Muvuna. "They made everything for me easier."

A year ago, the word "ease" was not in Muvuna or Rwanteli's English vocabulary, nor was it present in their lives.

Now, the boys are grateful for the support from the Goulets and Gorman because it has truly changed them forever.