Richard Tshimanga
Richard Tshimanga was born in Kinshasa, The Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire). His father died when he was young, and his mother raised him and his four siblings. Richard studied finance for two years at university, but left due to political persecution. He was involved in a political opposition party and was arrested but later temporarily released. He sought help from a British visitor to flee the DRC. He travelled to Switzerland, where he stayed for seven and a half years, but his asylum request was rejected. His wife and daughter had fled to Zimbabwe while his son had to stay in Kinshasa because he was ill. His wife and daughter were accepted as refugees in Canada in 2009 and came to Halifax. Richard joined them in March 2012.