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Small Commerce
Odette Mukeshimana
RwandaGALLERYCONVERSATION
I live in Rwanda with my younger sisters Brigitte Nyiransabimana, 18; Béata Mukandayambaje, 12; and my younger brothers Jean Nshimiyimana, 16; and Ferdinand Nzeyimana 14. Our brothers Felix and Philippe left us three years ago for Kigali, to look for a better life.

My parents died just after the 1994 war. After returning from the displacement camps, they were very sick and suffered from malnutrition. Everything in our house had been stolen, and there was nothing left in the garden either. We couldn't afford medicine, so they just died here in the house, in front of our eyes.

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. In the meantime, we have to initiate other small income generating projects to earn more, and to ultimately have enough to begin our salon.

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. Hopefully, with money from our efforts we will be able to satisfy our own needs, and continue to pay for Ferdinand and Béata to go to secondary school -- and maybe even university.
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natalia (United States)
Stories like Odette's make the war and death that occured in Rwanda come alive for me. It is more powerful to see a person's experience in this turmoil than to read about the population as a whole in the newspaper. I am truly inspired by the work that the YWCA does for these women. Bravo!
Maya Peipul (Papua New Guinea)
Thank you Kelly for your generous offer to assist Odette in her journey to a better life. I am Maya Peipul and am currently an intern with the World YWCA
Contact details for the Rwanda YWCA can be obtained through our worldywca.org website or you can contribute through your Canadian YWCA. Contributing to the World YWCA is also possible. Odette and more girls like her in Rwanda need your support.
Sharon Mazingaizo (Zimbabwe)
I feel so humble and inspired after the Odette's story to know that they is always hope. I admire her for having so much courage and providing for her slibings.
Laura (United States)
Its so easy to take what we have in life for granted. Odette's story reminds us to not do so. I'm happy for Odette that the YWCA has been able to help her and her siblings take on small projects & generate some income. The YWCA's work around the globe is truly commendable. You seem like such a giver Odette, I hope you will get the opportunity to go to university too - along with your siblings.
Kelly Breuls (Canada)
Its stories like these that inspire us to continue in our work with women and children. Often we have no real idea how our donations get to the actual people we want to help. Not because they need our charity, their strength and courage far exceeds mine, but I'd like to know how I could financially contribute directly to Odette, help her continue her training, purchase supplies and market products
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