REGINA - Christian Karuranga faced many hardships throughout his life, ending up in provincial prison multiple times. Now, he is helping out those most in need from his job as an outreach worker.
Karuranga was born and raised in Africa. He moved to Canada when he was a 12-year-old with his brother to avoid the ongoing genocide in his home country.
While moving to Canada gave Karuranga a better life, he went from city to city around the country and never had a true place to call home.
One incident led to another, and Karuranga wound up in a provincial prison multiple times, spending years in jail.
Karuranga came to a realization that he did not survive the hardships in Africa just to end up living in Canada as a criminal. So he started "reading the Bible and giving his life to Jesus."
It was about five to six years ago that Karuranga started on the path back to becoming a regular citizen in society again.
Once he was released from prison, he connected with a group called Prison Ministry, where they helped Karuranga find a job with the Souls Harbour Rescue Mission, a non-profit organization in Regina that offers help to all.
After working there for three years, Janet Dillabaugh, the chief executive officer of Break Free Outreach Ministries, asked Karuranga if he wanted to come and do outreach work.
Karuranga admitted that, at the time, he had no idea what the responsibilities of an outreach worker were but knew taking this job would help serve God.
As an outreach worker, Karuranga helps serve the people of the North Central neighbourhood, meeting their social, physical and spiritual needs.
One of those needs is food for low-income families, which the organization offers, from eggs to bread. Break Free Outreach Ministries receives food from various partners that aid the faith-based organization.
They also help host daily events, from empowering kids to craft creation for women and cooking classes where kids can learn how to make food.
Karuranga does not feel he's done anything to help others, but he strives to do his best and aid in any way he can.
He recalled a time when a person came in needing help. A woman recently lost her child and was angry to the point she did not want to live anymore. Karuranga helped the girl by praying, and in two months, she came back to say hello to him, which meant the world to Karuranga.
From all his goodwill, Karuranga would not admit his good deeds could wash away his past. Karuranga added he never felt he earned another chance and easily could have been killed in prison or deported to another country. However, he is grateful for getting "a second chance in life."
When asked if people should get a second chance after serving time in prison, Karuranga said it is up to the person. "You have to make a choice, [a] decision. There are two roads. You can keep going and doing bad things [or] you can go towards a different route, in a good [way], [so] you can better yourself."
Karuranga reflected on his path while answering the question, feeling it took him way too long to realize his wrongdoings and every time he left prison, he "came out worse."
He also said, "anyone who goes in there [prison], they do not want to be there. So [make sure] that you make a smart, wise choice" when it comes to one's life decisions.
Despite his history, many in the community have supported Karuranga and his efforts to better himself and the community.
Karuranga has no plans for his future, but he will continue "helping give a sense of happiness [to people] like I’ve done something [every] day."
