The Women's Co-Op

Janette learned to sew while living as a refugee in Tanzania. In 2009 Janette returned to Burundi with her three children, working as a seamstress to support the family.  Given the uncertain economic conditions, Janette’s husband works in Tanzania while Janette lives in Busimbwa Peace Village, a settlement for repatriated refugees. Village Health Works hired Janette as a sewing trainer in November 2011. A founding member of the Women’s Empowerment Co-operative for sewing, 25-year-old Janette will provide nine women from her catchement area with critical skills and will help facilitate the development of new designs and concepts.

Originally from Gitega, Gloria joined Village Health Works as a weaving trainer in June of 2011. A single mother, Gloria has been supporting her self, and now her young son, by weaving beautiful baskets, which she has done since she was 16 years old. Gloria learned her craft from her mother and aunt, secretly at age six. From bracelets to baskets, Gloria’s designs share a respect for tradition and a willingness to experiment. Today, she is excited that her skills will help others improve their conditions.

Isidonie Ngezahayo
Age 60, Lives in Kigutu

Isidonie is married and the mother of eight children. She says, “My daily life is very difficult; I don’t have enough land to feed my family. I hope that being a member of the soap making co-op I will improve my life.”

Aline Ndayipfukamiye
Age 18, Lives in Karirimvya

Aline says, “I went to school until 5th form but I didn’t continue because I had poor vision. Before joining the soap-making co-op, I used to cultivate my family’s small land. Now, I’m getting skills in soap and candle making and it will be very helpful in my life.”

Adonette Nimpaye
Age 30, Lives in Mugara

Adonette is married, with four children. She and her family have recently returned from Tanzania after fleeing the war. She says, “My husband and I cultivate land for other people in order to feed our children but we don’t get such work every day and we don’t have our own land to work. Now I’m in the soap-making co-op - it’s a huge opportunity for me because I hope to improve my life and the lives of my family.”

Honoree Hafashimana
Age 22, Lives in Karirimvya

Honoree is married with one daughter.  She says, “I have studied only in primary school; when my parents died I was forced to leave school. I went to cultivate the family land to grow food for my young brother. Now I’m a member of the soap and candle making co-op. It’s a huge opportunity for me because I get skills which will be helpful for my whole life.”

Clementine Hamenyimana
Age 26, Lives in Mugara

Clementine is married with four children. She says, “I only attended school until the 6th form. My husband and I originally came from Bururi commune, far away from where we now live. We had to come to Mugara because we were displaced during the war. Now we have problems getting land. Being in the soap and candle-making co-op is the only source of hope in my life.”

Marie Nikobahoze
Age 60, Lives in Mugara

Marie has five children who are all married; she lives with only her husband. She says, “My husband and I are repatriated refugees from Tanzania. It is a great task to figure out how to feed our selves. Now I’m among the soap and candle makers - Long life to VHW!”

Lea Nizigiyimana
Age 32, Lives in Mugara

Lea says, “I’m divorced and have four children with me. It’s very difficult for me to feed my children and to send them to school. I’m a member of the soap making co-op and I can now foresee a bright future for all of us.”

Pelagie Ndihokubwayo
Age 40, Lives in Mugara 

Pelagie is married and the mother of six children. She says, “even though I didn’t get to go to school during my childhood, it has been wonderful for me to learn new things today. I’m a soap and candle maker.” 

Speciose Harerimana
Age 21, Lives in Kigutu

Speciose says, “I’m divorced and I have three children. I live with my parents at our home land. My three children and I depend on my mother to live. The co-op is a big opportunity for me to get skills, which are very important to my future and the future of my three children.”

Esperance Harerimene
Age 20, Lives in Kigutu

Esperance says, “I didn’t get the chance to go to school so I’ve only had the opportunity to cultivate our land. Now I’m one of the soap and candle makers at Kigutu, thanks to VHW and all of its supporters.”

Triphonie Nizigama
Age 35, Lives in Kabwayi

Triphonie is married and the mother of five children. She says, “In our locality we live by agriculture, but now it’s not easy to get enough food. I heard during volunteer work at the clinic that there would be new co-ops at VHW, Kigutu. I’ve chosen weaving and now I’m able to make bracelets and baskets…In the future I expect to be able to solve many challenges facing my family.”

Chantal Harerimana
Age 35, Lives in Kigutu

Chantal is married with five children. She says, “I have never been to school and I don’t know how to write or read because of the war. My husband and I do not have a source of income other than what we make cultivating our small piece of land. I’m now one of the weaving co-op members and we are learning to make many things. I hope those beautiful things we are making will reach all over the world.”

Celine Kabura
Age 18, Lives in Kigutu

Celine says, “I’m single and only studied until the 4th form. I gave up because of my eye problems. Since leaving school, I have been helping to cultivate our family land but now I’m happy to be one of the weaving co-op members because I’m getting helpful skills. I’m happy, also, to have something in my life that I can maybe teach other people someday.”

Liberate Havyarimana
Age 54, Lives in: Kigutu

Liberate is married and has four children. Liberate says, “My husband is handicapped and can’t work. I do my best to feed my whole family myself, which is not easy. When I heared that there would be co-ops at VHW, I said to myself that even if I’m old, I will go and try my best to be selected. Now, I’m one of the weaving co-op members and I expect to know very well how to weave and improve my life.”

Hellene Tabu
Age 43, Lives in Kigutu

Hellene says, “I have five children. I’m a repatriated refugee from Tanzania and my husband is still living there. I’m with only my children now and though we got land to build our house, we got no land to cultivate. Many times we pass the whole day without eating. Now with the co-op, our future is bright. I hope I will be able to support my family.”

Monique Nzeyimana
Age 52, Lives in Kigutu

Monique is married with twelve children. She says, “I’m a repatriated refugee from Tanzania. Now, I’m one of the weaving co-op members. I joined the co-op in order to improve my life. I expect to be developed and have something to sell in our country and overseas.”

Yvette Irankunda
Age 18, Lives in Kigutu

Yvette just gave birth to her first child and surprised us all by coming back to work just one week after! She says, “My daily work is to cultivate our land and before, I did not expect to have any other things to do. But now, I’m one of the luckiest people because I’m in the weaving co-op. Even though we’ve only worked three months, we already earned money! I expect to have a good life in the future and a strong co-op.”

Mathilde Ndayisaba
Age 53, Lives in Kigutu

Mathilde is married and has ten children. She says, “My whole life, my daily work has been to cultivate. My husband and I didn’t think about planning our family and now we have trouble feeding our children and finding money for school fees. I rely on my co-op to help me face our many challenges. I now have new friends in the weaving co-op and I know I can get their help if I’m ever in need.”