A life changing journey with peers in saving groups
MUHAWENIMANA Jacqueline, 30 Years old a mother of 3 children, is one of beneficiaries who worked with YWCA through “Enhancing the livelihood for vulnerable young women “project in partnership with UN-Women.
She is now a MTN service Provider-Agent.
In 2006, She became an orphan of both parents. Since then, the life has become painful as she was not able to find school fees and other basic need. Few days later she dropped out from schooling. Due to peer pressure, she found herself as female sex worker.
While in that situation, she encountered enormous life bitterness ; She did know much about the Sexual Reproductive and Health Rights, she was sexually violated and used to drink a lot as a way of solace.
After 14 Years of darkness, struggling to find essentials for herself and her children, she would confront with security guards because of misbehaviour and of course her children would diversely suffer from considerable threats.
MUHAWENIMANA has heard about the YWCA project “Enhancing the livelihood for vulnerable young women” and she willingly joined. The life starts to turn into promising dreams and actions.
She says : “I was in darkness and miserable life with my children, we had not hope for tomorrow.”
“After being enrolled into the project, I found space for joy, growth and happiness” She added.
MUHAWENIMANA says that in the project, the project mentors gathered them into Savings groups into which they learnt, in groups discussions, sexual reproductive health and Rights, Gender Action Learning as well as life skills.
By those knowledge and skills gotten from Saving groups, Luck enough through project services, she was tested HIV-negative and she decided to change behaviours.
MUHAWENIMANA started saving Rwf 500 every week of some times, she borrowed Rwf100,000 from her Savings Group, HABONEZA. She invested in service as MTN-Agent.
The business is generating income to cater for day to day expenses.
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