Chantal M. resides in Nyamugali Cell, located in Nyanza Sector of Gisagara District, along with her 3 children. Struggling with poverty, the family endured extremely harsh living conditions. These bad living conditions led her husband to abandon them. In order to feed her children, used to work for her neighbors. The family lived in a dilapidated house that had no kitchen, forcing them to cook indoors. Furthermore, the household lacked adequate sanitation facilities.
After joining the FXBVillage TLF Project, Mukeshimana Chantal and her five children experienced remarkable improvements in their lives. Her children, previously out of school due to poverty, began attending regularly after receiving school materials, uniforms, and school feeding contribution.
Chantal gained financial literacy skills and started a profitable onion business at Nyaruteja Market. She also received a cow through a social enterprise group, using its manure to boost her crop yields and fertilize her kitchen garden. With the income earned, she renovated her dilapidated house, built a well-ventilated kitchen, constructed a toilet, and added an external shower. These changes not only improved her family’s living conditions but also helped cover school fees and community health insurance.
Additional support through Farmer Field School (FFS) training and agricultural inputs empowered her to establish productive vegetable gardens in her backyard. Her initiative and success made her the first woman in the community to develop kitchen gardens that not only provide nutritious food for her household but also generate income through the sale of surplus vegetables.
Chantal’s resilience, especially after being abandoned by her husband, and her adoption of improved hygiene and sanitation practices, have made her a respected role model in the community.
“FXBVillage TLF Project interventions helped me to get out from anxiety, depression and restore the hope for a better future. Said Chantal .”
.
Watch the video of Chantal’s story :
Leave a Comment