UWAYEZU MARIA PLEDGES TO START FELLOW REFUGEE YOUTH SKILLS TRAINING OUT REACH USING CAPITAL RAISED FROM RICE GROWING
Uwayezu Maria former Tailoring and garment cutting graduate of 2016,with a lot of zeal completed her course in April 2017, she mobilized resources from all possible sources using the skills and Started girls entrepreneurs group. She also started growing rice in Rwamwanja settlement on her plot of land.
She mobilised other refugees youth to start young entrepreneurs group. She received start up seed from Mr Safari Mark – MBEKE Traders Manager in Kamwenge District and planted 0.5- half an Acre of rice on her allocated plot of land as well as hired plot of land from neighbours.
Uwayezu Maria who is making 20 years, Single mother, a 1990 Rwandan war Survivor left un accompanied after all her parents were killed by Rebels in Rwanda. The war left her unaccompanied as all Known relatives died during the war. She was picked when she was still a young minor by Kaniire Rizabera who went with her to Democratic Republic of Congo as refugees in 1990 where she stayed as a fostered child. Due to her situation, she was not allowed to stay in school thus dropped at Primary six due to refugee situation.
UwaYezu tells: I cried all day, lamented to God for his mercies on me when they told me to drop from school but because of my situation had no alternative.
War broke again and we found ourselves again as refugees in Rwamwanja settlement because of overstaying at Nyakabande Refugees transit centre in Kisoro unfortunately ended up getting an early pregnancy and later delivered a child at 18 years. My foster mum being so poor could not do much to help but endured .
In Rwamwanja settlement, I received information that Mark was helping refugees girls, I jumped and said I, will go and kneel before Mark, the Manager
Mbeke Traders to assist me as they have assisted many other orphans. Mark referred me for skills training and after supported my group with Rice Seeds and fertilisers that changed my life
Having completed her tailoring course she looked helpless as she had no money to buy the Tailoring machine. She resorted to rice growing that was given by Mbeke traders. The seed was planted and she was able to harvest 500 Kilograms of clean rice that was sold to get 1.250.000( One million two hundred and fifty thousand shillings).My life transformed immediately as i moved in Rwamwanja Settlement with my head up like any National.
Having received the money she bought Three tailoring machines. Uwayezu Maria is using three received Tailoring machines to train her four Friends in tailoring and garment cutting skills as they also grow Rice as their enterprise. She says am committed to support other fellow needy youth to make sure they have a better future by encouraging them to grow rice and study entrepreneurship skills
With skills and growing rice,she said with smiles , you can forget that you are a young refugee in other peoples country. She says am able to save 1.300.000 (One million three hundred thousands in the last two seasons “ from rice farming; She joyfully said .I have to accumulate income , educate my child and support my foster mum
She pledges to maintain and fulfil her vision of training other vulnerable girls in her village but only those who will allow to do Rice farming as business.
She applauded Mbeke traders , the Funders and Mark Safari-Manager Mbeke Traders for the good work that transformed her life. She appeals for continuous support to youth groups.
Success story collected by: Nshaba Ruhanga Thomas – Field officer Rwamwanja Settlement-Reports 2017
