Alphonsine is a resilient mother of three children, living with her husband and raising a family of five. Her journey reflects determination, faith, and the power of consistent effort supported by community empowerment.
Alphonsine joined a Hagari Rwanda savings group with a vision to improve her family’s livelihood. With a starting capital of 5,000 Rwandan francs ($3.45), she launched a small vegetable business near her home, selling items such as carrots, eggplants, tomatoes, and onions. She focused not only on selling but also on building trust with her customers, even offering home delivery services to strengthen relationships and grow her client base.
Through discipline and perseverance, Alphonsine successfully grew her business capital from 5,000 RWF ($3.45) to 20,000 RWF ($13.79). She now earns an average daily profit of 3,000 RWF ($2.07), which has significantly contributed to her household’s stability. Together with her husband, she adopted a structured savings strategy, contributing to three different savings groups: 1,000 RWF (69 cents) daily, 2,000 RWF ($1.38) weekly, and 4,000 RWF ($2.76) weekly. Her husband complements these efforts through casual labor, supporting rent and other basic family needs. Their collaboration and joint financial decision-making have strengthened their partnership and family unity.
After stabilizing her business, Alphonsine set a new and ambitious goal—to acquire land. Despite initially targeting land worth 300,000 RWF ($207), her continued commitment to saving enabled her to surpass this goal. She successfully purchased a plot of land valued at 600,000 RWF ($414) (10m x 20m) in Bugesera District, Eastern Province, marking a major milestone in her journey toward long-term security.
Her path, however, was not without challenges. Alphonsine faced multiple setbacks, including the confiscation of her goods due to informal trading and being repeatedly chased from her selling location. She also endured physical strain during pregnancy while caring for a young child. Despite these hardships, she remained steadfast and refused to give up. Her resilience and work ethic continue to define her progress.
Alphonsine expresses deep gratitude to Hagari Rwanda for its holistic support to her family, particularly in covering her child’s school fees. This assistance eased her financial burden and allowed her to focus on expanding her business. She also values the consistent follow-up and encouragement from the social worker, which has played a key role in maintaining family unity and focus.
Beyond economic growth, Alphonsine experienced a profound spiritual transformation. Through Hagari’s teachings, she gained a deeper understanding of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. During one of the sessions, she made a personal decision to accept Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Today, she actively participates in church and testifies that the Word of God has nurtured patience and forgiveness in her life, strengthening her relationship with her husband.
She also celebrates the positive development of her child, who is growing into a responsible and intelligent young girl—an outcome that brings her great joy and hope for the future.
In her own words, Alphonsine shares her heartfelt appreciation:
