The Single Mothers Empowerment Project(SMEP) of Women Plan Rwanda(WPR) Organization saw how in the society, such girls are often labeled as irresponsible, immoral, incapable, or as people whose future is already ruined, and come to remind them that there is still hope. Even though society may see them negatively, and even though they may feel ashamed or believe that their dreams have ended.
“That is not the truth. You can rebuild yourself.” said Mbabazi Diana WPR Communication and development officer
“We begin this journey through capacity-building. We run a three-month program called the Journey of Transformation, which starts by helping them understand that they are not useless members of society. Instead, they are valuable individuals who deserve care, who can take care of their children, and who can contribute meaningfully to their communities.” she added.
She said that sfter completing the training, they organize them into groups they call Village Serving and Reborn Associations, each made up of 25 members with its own leadership. In these groups, they learn how to save money, offer small loans to one another, and eventually earn profits that are shared among all members. and also teach them how to wisely invest their savings.
The Single Mothers Club of Ruhango/Nyamagana is receiving capacity-building trainings.
In addition to training, they provide practical support. “Some of groups have received livestock such as pigs and goats. We follow up to ensure the animals are well maintained and generating income.” Said Diana.
She also said that many of the beneficiaries have made tremendous progress: some have multiplied their livestock, others have renovated or built homes, some are raising chickens on a large scale, some rent farmland for agriculture, and many now earn regular income.
“We even have those who have started small businesses such as barbershops and beauty salons, This is how we empower women both socially and economically.”
Some of them testified what the program done for them. Esther is one of them, a young mother who was abandoned by the person responsible. As a single mother, she felt lonely, isolated, and without hope for the future.
Everything changed when she joined one of WPR’s SMEP–Village Saving and Loan Association(VSLA) groups. There, she met peers with similar challenges and began to feel a sense of belonging. Through the training she received, she learned the value of saving, planning, and working hard toward her goals.
“Whenever I got money, I would spend it all at once.”
Esther was among the beneficiaries who received a pig. After rearing it for four months, it produced nine piglets, seven of which survived. She sold the piglets and used the income to buy 30 chickens, starting a small poultry project at her parents’ home, for the first time in a long while, her parents began to value her again.
She said:“They were amazed to see me rebuilding my life.”
When her first pig became infertile, Esther sold it for RWF 120,000, bought another for RWF 80,000, and used the remaining balance to support her household. The new pig gave birth to seven piglets; she sold six of them and expanded her poultry project to 50 more chickens. Later, the pig produced another litter of five piglets.
Today, she owns seven pigs (six piglets and one mature pig) and 80 chickens. She plans to sell some of the piglets to build a modern poultry house and pigsty.
“I have dedicated my life to pig and poultry farming because I see it as the key to my development, Soon, my chickens will start laying eggs, giving me daily income while my pigs continue to provide steady profits.”
“I sincerely thank WPR. You lifted me from a place of despair to where i am today and the impact is visible. With your support, training, and encouragement, i have discovered my potential as a woman. I am determined to keep moving forward and to go as far as possible on this journey of development.”
Her colleague Umutoniwase Grace became pregnant at an early age and was still living in her parents’s home. felt ashamed, devalued and hopeless. During those desperate times she learned about WPR’s SMEP program and joined a mothers’ group. Where they received training in many things like capacity building,…
After being trained in saving, she started new journey:” i began saving every coin I could. I was also selected to receive livestock support and received a pig, which I reared until it gave birth to six piglets. One piglet died and I was left with five. I entrusted one piglet to a colleague in my VSLA and kept four.”
From those pigs she collected manure and produced compost/fertilizer, which she sold.
“The income from selling compost allowed me to rent a small garden plot to grow vegetables, a high margin market for us. I combined the income from vegetables with proceeds from selling some of the piglets and used the money to rent a larger plot of land for three years at RWF 100,000.”
After one season she harvested and earned RWF 250,000. deposited the money in the bank for a few days while she considered how best to invest it. She later decided to buy three shaving machines and opened a small salon (hair-trimming shop) serving men, women and girls.
She said, she has no dreams for the future, but now she thanks the WPR.: “Before Women Plan Rwanda’s SMEP program I had no hope. Today I run a salon, rent out a bicycle, farm year-round and pay my child’s school fees, all thanks to WPR’s training and the VSLA.”
Many trainings taken
They currently support 18 groups, each with 25 members, operating in seven districts: Kamonyi, Muhanga, Ruhango, Nyanza, Gisagara, Nyamagabe, and Nyaruguru. The goal is to build lasting capacity. They want these young mothers to rise from a place of isolation and hopelessness to a place of productivity and independence, earning their own income, sustaining themselves, and eventually being able to uplift others.
In STEM education, they are helping many single mothers return to school, especially in science-related fields.
They also provide education on SRHR and HIV prevention, and support them with hygiene and sanitation, including providing menstrual pads.