Chantal (after her prayer) with social worker
Cyprieu Ngoga. |
When Chantal joined Giving Hope, she participated in trainings on children’s
rights and income- generating activities and management. She was eager to
begin to earn income, and began with small activities -- washing clothes
for neighbors, running errands. Now Chantal expresses “many thanks
that I cannot list” for the Giving Hope program.
Here in the field where her group grows tomatoes, Chantal asks that the group pray; she thanks God for keeping them all alive, as others have passed away, and for keeping the visitors safe in their travels.
The Kagasa group includes nine member households -- 46 children. Their first tomato crop generated 50,000 Rwandan francs (about $95), which covered their original investment, and in four months, the group increased their income fourfold. They purchased watering cans and a spray hose and shared their income, with each of the households receiving 20,000 francs ($19) to begin their own activity. Now each household has its own savings account.
"We are happy for our group," says Chantal, "but we still have dreams -- we would like to have our own clothes, and we wish each household would have its own plot for individual gardens. And, we would like to buy an animal to have fertilizer. We cannot finish the story."
"Even children living with parents want to be a part of Giving Hope. Whenever we go for group work, we joke," Chantal says -- an indication of the world-weariness that can drop away through companionship and success. "Giving Hope lets us focus on our dreams."