hi, i'm Don

​I am 24 years old. I'm originally from Burundi, but for almost three years, I have lived in Toronto, Canada.

I am the oldest of five kids, with one brother and three sisters. My father passed away in 2010. When I first came to Canada, it was as a student at Centennial College. I came with my younger brother and sister, while my mother and two other sisters stayed in my country. We arrived in May, and the summer here was so hot, but the winter was cold. It was an adjustment.

I liked school, and I got decent grades. I would speak with my family in Burundi on the phone and through Skype. But things were not easy. There is civil unrest in my country, and my mother and sisters eventually came to Canada as well and we all claimed refugee status. My mom is taking English classes now, and there is a growing Burundian community here in Toronto that we are a part of.

​Before they arrived, though, I was hospitalized for symptoms of schizophrenia. I didn't know what schizophrenia was before I was hospitalized, but I learned fast. I was in the hospital for two months. When I was discharged I stayed in a short term safe bed. After that, I moved into my own apartment and my case worker referred me to Progress Place. There are nice people here and Progress Place lets people be who they are without stress. I love dj'ing for the clubhouse because music is so relaxing. I used to DJ in Burundi and I make my own beats now. I also like working on the Progress Place podcast and the audio visual projects. Eventually I would like to return to school, and work in business, ideally in the music business.