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Small Commerce
Odette Mukeshimana
RwandaGALLERYCONVERSATION
My parents died just after the 1994 war. After returning from the displacement camps, they were very sick and suffered from malnutrition.
Béata was 3 years old, I was 11. We were too young to care for ourselves. We were totally isolated, none of our neighbours would care about us. Everyday we asked ourselves, what would we eat today? We were often sick, and didn't have any means to get help. We lived only by the grace of God.
In 1998, we received assistance from a local project working with orphans, but when our brothers left for Kigali, we ran into trouble again. In January 2003, a woman from the YWCA contacted us, and other orphans who live nearby, and invited us to join their new programme for Child-Headed Households.
Through the YWCA's programme, I have learned how to manage a small income-generating project, and I have just finished my training in Batik. My friend and I plan to open a Batik salon. However as raw materials are expensive, it will take us a while to get started. We currently work on order, through the YWCA, because we haven't found a place where our clients can come to us.
I plan to start raising goats. I also hope to take on small projects selling lamp fuel, dried fish, soy flour and peanuts from home. This small commerce from home will be Brigitte's responsibility. Jean will take care of the goats, and I will continue with the Batik, while Ferdinand and Béata are in school. We will work in the field together. When we have earned enough money, we can hire a worker for the field.
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