TUYISENGE ANITHA SUCCESS STORY

Learning, Earning, and Protecting My Future

My name is TUYISENGE Anitha. I am 22 years old and live with my mother in Kinunga Village, Rwikiniro Cell, Gatsibo District. Although both of my parents are alive, they have been living separately for the past two years.

I am grateful to be among the young women supported by Reseau Culturel Sangwa through the support of the Melania Foundation.

Before joining the training at SANGWA Center, I had no professional skills and depended on my mother for many of my personal needs. I was uncertain about my future and often felt powerless because of my economic dependence. I lacked confidence and was afraid to go out and interact with others.

Through the vocational training at SANGWA Center, I learned hairdressing and nail care. I can testify that I learned a great deal and even started earning money before completing the training. After classes, I regularly practiced with my friends, sisters, and neighbors to improve and master the skills I was learning. Those who appreciated my work would give me between 500 and 1,000 Rwandan Francs, which allowed me to buy some of the things I needed.

Today, I have the knowledge and practical skills to provide services to clients both from my home and at SANGWA Center. I can create different hairstyles and professionally polish and decorate nails.

During weddings and other celebrations in my community, many people request my services. This enables me to earn an income that helps me purchase basic necessities, support my family, and contribute to household expenses. Today, I no longer struggle to ask others for support to meet my personal needs because I can work and earn money for myself.

I am also a member of a community savings and credit group, where I contribute 10,000 Rwandan Francs each month. In addition, I belong to another savings group established at SANGWA Center, where I save 1,000 Rwandan Francs every week. When we shared the savings and accumulated interest, I received 16,000 Rwandan Francs, which I used to buy a chicken for small-scale livestock keeping and some clothes for myself.

One of the most valuable experiences for me at SANGWA Center was the additional training we received on gender and human rights, prevention of gender-based violence, and sexual and reproductive health. I particularly enjoyed the reproductive health sessions. We also established a club where we dance, sing, and engage in discussions with our facilitators on these topics.

These trainings changed my mindset and increased my self-confidence. I learned about my rights, decision-making, and my value as a young woman.

Before, I used to think that if I met a man or a boy who offered me 10,000 Rwandan Francs, I might accept having sex with him in order to satisfy my basic needs. Today, this is no longer the case.

After realizing that I can work and earn my own income, I have gained confidence in myself. I have learned to value and protect my dignity, and I am no longer easily influenced or manipulated by others.

Today, I feel stronger and more confident in protecting myself from violence and exploitation because I am no longer fully dependent on others economically. I can make decisions about my own body and my future.

I sincerely thank the Melania Foundation and Reseau Culturel Sangwa for giving me this opportunity and helping me envision a better future. My parents are very happy with the professional skills and knowledge I have acquired. They greatly appreciate the work of Reseau Culturel Sangwa and the Melania Foundation, even though they have never met them personally. By TUYISENGE Anitha.