Madam Sarafina NIYONSABA is a destitute women living near Kibungo Parish. Sarafina before joining the congregation one years ego she did not know any member of the church in Kibungo. Only got to know some congregation member after she had attended a meeting held at the church, which was aimed to sensitize women to come together to start saving & lend association of the church and community lived near the parish. “I was just a neighbour of this church”, says Madam Sarafina “I had no deep harmony about this church as I was a catholic”.
With 4 kids at home-all girls ranging in age from 7 to 13 years old, Sarafina’s husband have married to another woman and he spends all his time with a new wife. Madam Sarafina has a hard time making life as much of she lived alone and her children. But formed group in saving and credit scheme for Kibungo parish women have been of great assistance to Sarafina. 30,000 Rwf loan she received from the group allowed her buy 2 goats. But it is not really the loans Madam Sarafina likes about the saving group; It’s the church and fellow group members! When one her girl fell ill and admitted to the hospital, she was anxious. “I was running around the hospital not knowing what will happen to my child” Madam Sarafina says. …..“It was amazing; 4 women and evangelist from Kibungo parish were the 1st persons to come and comfort me.
The friendship by my group members deepened and now I loved the Lutheran church for responding to God’s command to serve the disadvantaged and preaching the poor by sharing with them Love massage”. She says never had people who love her before like the members in her saving group. She says saving groups is good because it strengthen people’s faith through friendship, and mutual solidarity. Women chat with one another about their husbands, kids, their jobs and their faiths. They also help one another. “I want to thank my parish leaders for sensitizing me to join group for saving and lending as it restored my dignity as women. I no longer spend my money on local beer but I save it. I have applied a loan which led me own four goats today and my neighbours no longer disrespects me”, Said Sarafina. She hopes to one day help herself out of poverty and show other destitute women in her village of Kibungo that they have the ability to do the same.
