Umwari lived with her grandmother on the lush green hills of Rwanda, surrounded by the majestic mountain gorillas that roamed freely in the nearby forests. A beautiful girl with bright eyes and cute dimples who always dressed in her jade green Umushanana had a deep connection to the land and its inhabitants. Every morning, Umwari would wake up to the sweet scent of red roses that bloomed around the hills. The red roses were the national flowers of Rwanda and therefore she cherished them. She would spend her days exploring the hills, learning from her grandmother about the importance of protecting the natural beauty that surrounded them.
One day, while wandering through the forest, Umwari stumbled upon a wounded mountain gorilla.
“Awwnnn! What a poor thing! I wonder what this cute creature is doing here all alone.” She said in a worried tone. Without hesitation, she knelt down beside the injured creature and gently tended to its wounds. The gorilla looked at her with eyes filled with gratitude. She took the baby mountain gorilla to show to her grandmother and to know more about it.
“Mama nabonye iyi ngagi yo mu misozi. Nshobora kubikomeza? (Translated as ‘Mom, I saw this mountain gorilla. May I keep it?) She asked in her native language, kinyarwanda. Her grandmother who was busy preparing the Ibihaza (pumpkin) looked up at her and spoke gently.
“ Yego “ She agreed to Umwari’s request. “Humans are pushing mountain gorillas out of the wild and into extinction. By taking care of this creature, you are saving a life. Remember – “
“One who saves a life, saves the world.” She placed the baby gorilla down and hugged it tightly. Together, they explored the hills and valleys, forming a deep bond that transcended language and species. People from all over Rwanda came to see the extraordinary friendship between a girl and a mountain gorilla which of course was a strange thing.
As the years passed, Umwari grew older and wiser, but her love for the land and its inhabitants never wavered. She knew that her life was intertwined with the mountains, the gorillas, and the red roses that bloomed so beautifully.
And so, Umwari continued to live on the hills of Rwanda, a guardian of the land and a friend to all who needed her gentle touch. The mountains echoed with the sound of her laughter, and the red roses flourished in her presence, a testament to the enduring power of love and compassion.
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Varnessa Kayen Varlyngton (Kaykaywrites) is a professional 13-year-old fictional writer from Nigeria. Her key phrase is “Welcome to my creative cosmos where the power of the ink reigns supreme.” She is passionate about Ecofiction and Science Fiction, infusing deeper meanings into every story she writes, believing that stories can shape the world.
At the age of 10, Varnessa Kayen Varlyngton wrote her first book titled ‘AMAMA’ after winning the 30 books challenge in 2019 organised by Young Readers Library in partnership with the British Council. This book delves into themes of deforestation, Life on Land, and wildlife while encouraging children to take action.
Varnessa is also a dramatist and certified Animator from Yappi, Delyork Academy in partnership with Mastercard. She tells stories not only through her write-ups but creative animations with fascinating storylines such as Altruistic Environment, Mother Nature and a Pretty Damsel, Petra the Ballerina, Extragalactic Nebula, The Bird Race, Battle of the Queens, Evergreen Beauty of the Outlands and many more including series cartoons like Tales of the Roses and The Business Man which is ongoing. Her film, Anesthetic Love, was Selected for the Plotagon Film Festival 2023 and 5 of her films were shortlisted for the Ploscars Award 2024.
In addition to her writing and storytelling career, Varnessa Kayen Varlyngton is a talented Multipotentialite. She is a dedicated climate advocate, Indigenous environmental journalist (an Earth Journalism Network member), UNICEF Nigeria young influencer, RippLED Fellow, Kidprenuer Ambassador, and a passionate researcher. She is committed to raising awareness about environmental justice, and child environmental rights, and championing the UN Sustainable Development Goal 13. She is also a Podcaster and Social Entrepreneur, and the Founder and CEO of Egalitarianism for Earth.
