“We’re like others”: Changes in the lives of Historical Marginalized People in Kamonyi

Over 5 years of CARSA working alongside residents of the Mugina Sector in Kamonyi District, they started making ripple waves of progress and showing a beacon of resilience. It’s incredible how most people of this community have changed their mindset, started sending their children to school, dressed well, cleaned their bodies and clothes, and have small livestock, mainly goats, pigs, chickens, and rabbits. Most of them have given up their habit of stealing; they work together to earn money or cultivate other people in the village, thus earning money allocated to support themselves and save a small part through the community-saving groups (Ibimina). The problems others have been theirs too, so they no longer deserve to be called the Historically Marginalized People, Batwa, or other special names because they have reached where others are.

François Ruseriyende, a Mugina resident, says “In the past, they called us Twa; now people call us Historical Marginalized People because we were still living very poorly, but now where we are, we are not left behind because we have made progress and now, we live like other Rwandans.”

"Living alongside the CARSA organization has benefited us a lot; we have changed our mindset and fostered ideas that transform our lives; those who are able among us are looking for land to grow beans, maize, and cassava; we raise goats, chickens, rabbits, and others; and our children are also going to school. The problems that others face are what we face, and we seek solutions to them. When they grow, we do the same; they harvest, and we harvest instead of waiting to steal food from others. Now we see that we are Rwandans just like others; there is no reason for us to be called special names."  he added. 

François Ruseriyende explained about the Historically Marginalized to CARSA team and visitors. 

These ripple effects we see are the result of the efforts and integrated initiatives we have put in place to help this community toward self-sustainable transformation. These initiatives were taken later after finding that the majority of people from this community are those whose life conditions have not changed when compared to others; the majority had a mindset of being helped and even taught children to do so instead of teaching them to study, work, and attend school.

To help them change their mindset, build self-confidence, and have a sense of belonging, CARSA has assigned a special staff who spends time with them every day, learns about their habits and practices, and instills good values ​​through devotions or prayers where they are taught to live well with others and to give up bad habits including stealing, fighting, cleanliness and hygiene, and other important things.

These courses are an extension of the seven-day training known as the Empower Workshop that helps people change their perception of their lives in the hands of others, resolve conflicts, and set goals that help them break the cycle of extreme poverty and get a sense of belonging.

In this program, some were also helped to obtain livestock, including goats, and after the training, many of them were able to purchase more goats, chickens, and rabbits

Nyirabavakure Marie Chantal, a young mother who is among the beneficiaries of Mugina Community Empowerment, expresses her feelings “CARSA’s people have become our friends; they have found us and the advice they give us is helpful. What I have learned from them is how important it is in our lives to clean our bodies and send children to school { ………..}They gave me a goat but after the workshop, I bought another one myself, I have two goats.  Now I have set myself the goal of saving at least Rwf800 every week. Now there is no more conflict in our house but we are all together. We cannot thank this organization enough.”

Mukamana Francine also a member of Mugina Community and Cooperative reaffirms that CARSA did a great job ”Before, it was really difficult for me to think about finding a way to join us, but now I’m a member of a different savings group and in case I get an emergency, I  immediately borrow a little money from the groups to support myself, I see it’s helpful in one way or another. I still have the goat I was given, which is about to give birth, and because they taught us self-reliance, I have also bought 3 rabbits myself. I thank God for the CARSA organization because before, I felt that I would not raise a rabbit one week or two weeks as I craved for meat or needed food; that mindset has been changed and now I raise those small animals intending to earn money.”

Mukamana Francine a member of Mugina community parade her rabbits.

In order to help them escape extreme poverty and earn a living, we brought them together in a cooperative where they began to engage in income-generating activities. As if that were not enough, we connected them with a financial institution that helped them get a loan that was invested in making bricks for construction, which they have now started selling. Not only that, through the cooperative, they began to mine and trade sand, selling it to those in need and earning money.

Now, Mugina Cooperative is paying back the loan with a loan of Rwf800,000 (700 USD) and has to pay Rwf93,89 (800 USD), including the bank’s profits for a duration of one year. It only remains a small portion of Rwf290,000 (230 USD) that is projected to be done in the next months.

To train them about habits of saving, CARSA has formed a group that brings together all people in the community to save as much as they can every week, and the money is collected and deposited in an account opened in a suitable financial institution. For the first time this year, a few households were able to pay for their own health insurance, which is a major step in the process of changing attitudes and achieving great change.

This is not our work; this is God's work for His people in Rwanda. We thank God for miraculously creating a source of income for these people who suffered a lot and walking with them toward the horizon.

Although some positive changes have begun to unfold, this community still faces chronic complications, including extreme poverty, low morale, a high percentage of school dropouts, unwanted pregnancy, lack of land to cultivate, lack of housing, and very old houses. We cannot overcome all of these without the support of compassionate people like you who can help us to empower communities like this to overcome health issues, marriage relationship issues, and extreme poverty.

François Ruseriyende was showing CARSA assisted them get a sense of belonging and boast self-esteem

Saving group meeting alongside CARSA’s staff and visitors

Some cooperative and saving group members with bricks in backgrounds and hold on saving booklets

Francine along with her goat that was provided by CARSA

The members of Mugina Community were showcasing their dancing and singing talents at the last day of EMPOWER WORKSHOP

The members of Mugina Community were showcasing their dancing and singing talents at the last day of EMPOWER WORKSHOP