Dear John,

You may recall our recently launched Cultivating Change appeal, focusing on our work with communities in Rwanda to develop opportunities for survivors of gender-based violence and those at risk. Today, we talk to one of the young people taking control of their lives.

Julie, an 18-year-old girl, lives with her parents in a village in western Rwanda. She was unable to complete her secondary education as her parents couldn’t afford to pay her school fees. After leaving school, Julie explains that she was exposed to abuse and manipulation in her local area:

“Most girls of my age in my area have children because they are vulnerable to sexual abuse by men who manipulate them with small gifts. We live in a settlement where so many people, especially young people, do not have occupations for earning money to cover their basic needs.

This exposes young ladies to sexual abuse, drug and alcohol abuse and manipulation by men. I do not want to experience the same anymore.”

Julie engaged in training that Health Poverty Action conducted in her community, completing courses in work-readiness, business development, personal development and financial literacy.

Now Julie is undertaking tea-harvesting training at a local tea estate, and she is already earning a small wage for the 20kg of tea leaves she picks on an average day.

Julie tells us: “During [work-readiness and business development] training I learned a lot but the module on personal development and [financial literacy] was the most helpful and changed my life because I learned to have a personal goal and how to set money aside to achieve that goal.

I have joined [a community savings group and] am aiming to save as much as possible. I have set a goal for myself to buy a cow worth 350,000 Rwandan Francs by the end of this year.”

This groundbreaking initiative is helping young people like Julie gain valuable life-skills and employment, while making them less vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.

You can contribute to building safer, healthier, more prosperous communities for all by supporting our Cultivating Change appeal. Please give whatever you can today.

In solidarity,

Siaffa Bunduka,
Supporter Engagement Manager

P.S. Whatever you can give will help more activists, health workers and communities worldwide address both the causes and symptoms of poverty and poor health.