3 love stories from the heart of Africa
Meet three inspiring young women from BRAC's youth empowerment programs in Rwanda, "the heart of Africa."
BY BRAC USA
Located in the geographical center of the African continent, Rwanda is known as the “heart of Africa.” These three stories are not your typical love stories. Instead, they focus on Rwandan women who are changing their own lives and lifting their families and communities out of poverty. What greater act of love is there than that?
Liliane, age 22
When we first met Liliane through our youth empowerment program, she was a single mom living in Mugari, Rwanda with her mother, Beline, grandmother, Genevieve, and 1-year-old daughter, Reilla—four generations under one roof.
Liliane’s mother, who describes her daughter as a “hard worker” and “committed,” encouraged her to join a BRAC youth empowerment club while she was pregnant. Beline had recently learned about the program, which is equipping 1.2 million young women with entrepreneurship and life skills, and thought Liliane would be a good fit. The program applies a combination of microfinance, youth empowerment, agriculture, and skills development to improve lives and livelihoods in seven African countries, including Rwanda.
But Liliane was scared to sign up. “I was afraid and not confident to go out in public,” she says. However, she decided to attend and went to an introduction session. “On the first day, we learned that the main purpose of the club is to promote peace and harmony among community members,” Liliane remembers. “After hearing that, I thought, ‘I have to be a member.’ It was interesting to me, especially the support system.”
The fifth session in particular stood out to Liliane, which was about managing emotions. “Before, I was a person who was easily angered. But the lesson helped me be different,” she shares. “Even if someone does bad things to me, I can show them good ways. Later, that person can change.”
Liliane also enjoys the lessons about finance. She learned about her local Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA), a savings group for young women to avail small credits from the pooled funding to invest or meet emergency needs. Liliane says, “Before, saving was not my culture. But now, each Friday, I bring my savings to the VSLA. I’m saving at least $1,000 Rwandan Francs per week. My plan is to improve my living conditions.”
With a small loan, Liliane started a business buying and selling livestock, including chickens, goats, and rabbits. She’s feeling more confident and wants to continue to grow her business. “My dream is to become a stronger woman, and to get more capital to improve my business activities and add more activities [beyond] livestock,” Liliane concludes. “I’m also starting to encourage the young women in my community so that they can do great things.”
Recently, Liliane has also gained a new income stream after starting a new role as a mobile money agent.
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Ngabire, age 24
Born in a southern province of Rwanda, Ngabire moved to Nyanza to live with her husband. She has a three-year-old and a newborn baby. Ngabire is a farmer and grows cassava, beans, bananas, and vegetables to sell in her community. She finished secondary school, where she studied biology and chemistry.
When she heard there was a BRAC youth empowerment club in her village, Ngabire wasn’t sure if it was for her. “I felt afraid and self-conscious,” she recalls. But she heard that topics like health, business, and savings would be discussed, so she decided to give it a go.
During club sessions, learning about Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) felt revolutionary to her. “Savings wasn’t a matter for me before—it belonged to husbands and men,” Ngabire says. “But now, I am actively participating. Now that I save, I can solve family needs without asking my husband.”
“Before, I didn’t know my worth,” Ngabire continues. “I thought I was only to care for babies and give birth. But now, my mindset has changed and grown. I’m more open-minded and thinking big, and my dream is to grow my business and be a businesswoman. I want to continue learning for my business and career pathways.”
Ngabire has many new friends in her club. She’s happiest “when all the girls are dancing and socializing, or listening to and learning from mentors.” She says, “I want [us] to show other communities and make them aware that women can own a business.”
Before, I didn’t know my worth… But now, my mindset has changed and grown. I’m more open-minded and thinking big.”
Ngabire is already living proof. With the cash transfer she received from BRAC, she started her own business working as a mobile money agent, helping customers sign up for mobile money and use mobile money services such as depositing and withdrawing money, sending money, and paying bills.
But Ngabire also has more ambitions: She wants to create change in her own community by educating teens about topics like pregnancy and family planning. When asked about what motivates her, Ngabire said, “The confidence of being able to do things without depending on someone else… to work to prepare for the future of my children.”
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Nadine, age 22
Nadine is the second oldest of eight siblings in her family. She is a single mom to her daughter, Gaella, who was seven months old when we met her. Growing up, Nadine’s parents separated, and her mom took all the children to live with her own parents in their village of Mugari, Rwanda. Soon after, her mother left to find work.
“Life was very difficult, it wasn’t easy,” Nadine remembers. When they first moved, her grandfather was still alive and working, so Nadine was able to attend primary school. But after he passed away, there was no one at home to earn money and pay her school fees. The rest of Nadine’s education was inconsistent, but she kept one notebook of all her subjects.
Eventually, Nadine moved to Kigali, where her mother had moved, to find a job and put herself through vocational school. There, she met a friend who promised to support her. But instead, he got her pregnant.
Without the support she needed for her baby, she had to move back home to her grandmother’s village. Upon returning, Nadine’s family didn’t treat her well. “I felt alone—no one gave love to me,” she shares. “I was alone and angry, and I wasn’t interested in engaging with anyone.”
“But it was that time when I learned about BRAC and [the club],” Nadine recalls. “It was a good time to attend, because now I have friends and a mentor. I can come here for support and ask for advice.” As a participant, the “tree of life” session stuck with Nadine. “I am the trunk, and the branches are the values I have, like being passionate and being with my friends and siblings,” she says.
When asked about what she’s learned through her youth empowerment club, Nadine said, “I learned empathy and inclusion. Now, when I get angry, I can manage my emotions and feel happy in my heart.”
I learned empathy and inclusion. Now, when I get angry, I can manage my emotions and feel happy in my heart.”
Recently, Nadine used a cash transfer from BRAC to purchase goats that she is raising to earn an income. She hopes to continue investing in her business, taking out loans along the way to buy and sell more livestock, increase her income, and improve her daily life.
Amid starting a new business, Nadine has also made time to return to school, using her earnings to pay her school fees. After previously being forced to drop out, she is thrilled to be back in the classroom!
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Three of 70,000 and counting
So far, more than 70,000 women like Liliane, Ngabire, and Nadine have participated in BRAC’s latest youth empowerment program through 668 clubs set up in four countries. We can’t wait to see how their stories of rising above poverty continue to spread love throughout their families and communities.