Mama Keza’s Journey with Hagari Rwanda
For a long time, Pendo lived in survival mode. She rarely smiled, spoke harshly to others, and struggled to show affection toward her daughter, Keza. The pain of her past weighed heavily on her, making it difficult to see her child as anything but a reminder of her struggles. Providing for Keza felt more like an obligation than an act of love, and she saw little purpose in planning for the future.
Recently, Keza became very ill, and we witnessed a huge change in Pendo’s approach. Keza started experiencing severe stomach pain, and Pendo took her to a nearby hospital. When the doctors couldn’t find the cause of the pain, Pendo could have easily given up. But something within her—something that had been growing through the lessons and support she received from Hagari Rwanda—pushed her to keep fighting for her daughter.
Determined, she sought treatment at another hospital in Remera, where Keza was diagnosed with a stomach ulcer. Yet, even with medication, the pain did not subside. Frustrated but unwilling to accept defeat, Pendo turned to Francine, a fellow mother and family support team member from Hagari. Francine advised her to seek care at Kacyiru Hospital, where more advanced tests revealed that Keza’s ulcer was caused by an H. pylori bacterial infection. Treatment was available, but it required further medication and costs that Pendo could not afford.
In the past, Pendo might have let financial hardship stop her from pursuing the necessary care. But through Hagari’s teachings on saving and financial planning, she had learned the importance of being prepared for emergencies. She borrowed 25,000 RWF ($18) from a local savings group. With this support, she secured the necessary medication for Keza, and day by day, her daughter’s health improved. Today, Keza is fully recovered, and Pendo has already repaid most of her loan, determined to clear the remaining balance.
This experience was more than just a medical journey—it was a transformation of love, responsibility, and hope. Pendo, who has always been fiercely protective of Keza, is now a woman who is equipped and determined to ensure Keza’s well-being. She no longer sees her daughter as a burden but as her greatest blessing. She smiles more, speaks kindly, and seeks advice when faced with challenges. Instead of locking her daughter away in frustration, she now listens, learns, and grows as a parent.
Hagari Rwanda played a crucial role in this transformation. Through parenting workshops, financial literacy training, and a supportive community, Pendo learned how to love, protect, and provide for her child. She no longer lives just to survive—she is thriving. And Keza, once a child who bore the weight of her mother’s struggles, now has a mother who sees her as the reason to push forward, build a better life, and dream of a brighter future.
