Rwamagana women turn their lives around, leaving conflict behind to become entrepreneurs

Women in Rwamagana District are celebrating the progress they have made in overcoming family conflicts, supporting other women facing similar challenges and creating income-generating activities, including paint production, tailoring and other businesses.

The testimonies were shared during the General Assembly of the National Women’s Council, held at Saint Alois Hall in Rwamagana District under the theme, “Women’s Development: A Pillar of a Capable and Secure Family.”

Nyiramahirwe Chantal, from Munyiginya Sector in Rwamagana District, is among the women who have overcome family conflicts and gone on to become an entrepreneur.

Sharing her testimony, she said she previously lived in a troubled family environment and struggled to find happiness. She explained that she was later supported by women leaders, commonly known as Ba Mutimawurugo, who helped her rebuild her life.

“I was living in conflict and could not even smile. Whenever I got money, I felt that I had to spend it on drinking. Then the women leaders came to me and counselled me. They gave me RWF 100,000, which I used to buy 28 chickens. After three months, I sold them and made a profit. Today, I have progressed to the point where I mix and apply paint. I have even received an award in recognition of my achievements. I now live peacefully with my husband, and he has also remained with our child.”

Uwanyirigira Claudine, who represents the National Women’s Council in Rwamagana District, said that over the past five years, they have helped women achieve significant progress by encouraging them to work in groups and linking them with financial institutions to access capital.

She said the women have also contributed to efforts to return children to school, helped families resolve conflicts, encouraged couples who were living together without legal marriage to formalise their unions, and advocated for adolescent girls and women who have experienced violence.

Regarding family conflicts, Uwanyirigira explained that families that successfully overcome conflict often become ambassadors who help other families facing similar challenges.

“People knew that a particular family was always in conflict, but after resolving those conflicts, they would see the family progressing. This made it easier to educate others. We would then use those families to reach out to and educate others so that they could also overcome conflict. We have seen that this approach is producing results.”

She added that positive testimonies from families that had overcome difficult situations have been particularly effective in encouraging other families to seek solutions.

“When a negative testimony is followed by a positive one, it is what has helped many families in our district move away from conflict.”

Uwanyirigira also called on women to embrace their role as Ba Mutimawurugo by supporting their families while pursuing economic empowerment.

“Love yourselves and love your families. Work hard and develop yourselves. We also have a good district where we can engage in different activities, including business and agriculture.”

According to the National Women’s Council in Rwamagana, 619 families have so far overcome conflicts, out of the 819 families that had been targeted for the programme.