Ruminata lives in a Batwa community in rural Burundi with her husband Gaspard, their teenage daughter, Pascaline (18), and two sons, Cédric (12), and Régis (10). For many years, their family survived by making traditional Batwa clay pots, which sell for only a few cents each. Ruminata shares, “We had to go beg wherever we could to get something. My children did not have even the cheapest shoes. … Our shelter was covered with grass, we could not purchase even a single iron sheet (for the roof). We used to plan for one day because we had no resources to think of many days or weeks ahead. We were hopeless.”
A new beginning
Two years ago, Ruminata joined the Dushigikirane (“Let’s support one another”) savings group. Through her savings group, she made connections to start working as a day laborer in the neighborhood. When Ruminata talks about how her life changed after joining the group, she starts by talking about prayer:
“I am thankful to the church facilitator (volunteer savings group leader) who taught us to pray, because every true change starts with prayer. The savings group changed the life of my family. We learned how to pray, and we started having mini projects for our family. For example, my husband and I agreed to build a new shelter, and we achieved it!”
“The most touching change is that I am no longer a beggar. Another touching change is that my husband is now more collaborative and supportive than before, and family conflicts and disagreements have decreased significantly. We thank the Lord for such changes.”
Hope for the next generation
Ruminata’s vision goes far beyond herself to a changed future for this marginalized community: “Normally, Batwa have less land. … Now, most of the group members, including myself, have planned to buy a piece of land. It will be helpful in the future not only for me but also for my children and grandchildren.”
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