Felicia is a smallholder farmer, wife and mother to three children in Rwanda. Before, she worked hard on her farm to produce enough food to feed her family, but didn’t have the means to invest in her farm to expand it.
Then, Felicia was introduced to Opportunity International and began a journey that would change her life…
We provided Felicia and her farming cooperative with training in finance and agriculture. She learnt how to take out a loan, how to save and how to plan her finances.
Training in agriculture taught Felicia new farming techniques, helping her get the most out of her land and ensure her farm could withstand the impacts of climate change.
This means that no matter what the weather, Felicia’s family will be fed.
With loans she acquired with the help of Opportunity, Felicia was able to purchase chickens, cattle and more crops.
Surplus produce and new livestock helps increase her income and provides her children with nutritious meals
“I bought a cow, which has now given birth. I get milk to sell, pay back on the loan without trouble. I was also able to increase the number of chickens: Now I have five, which have chicks. Some lay eggs.”
"I didn’t know that eating eggs was a thing. Every meal I give to the children consists of eggs. Now, I also get milk for my children from home whenever they want it.”
With simple access to finance and training, Felicia has grown her farm’s prosperity and put her on an equal footing with her husband as a provider for her family. Now, her children are now well fed with nutritious meals, and Felicia can look for new opportunities.
With your help, we can ensure farmers in Rwanda have access to the tools they need to improve their farms and increase their income, helping them provide for their families.
Will you help us to change the lives of more families like Felicia?
Your gift could give a farmer the opportunity to grow their farms and provide for their families.
As we reflect on the world around us, it is clear that people everywhere share the same hopes and dreams. When meeting Opportunity International’s clients, what stands out to me is their determination to succeed and the hope they hold for the future. Despite challenging situations and a lack of resources, their lives have been changed through the interventions that we have been able to provide.
With access to secure savings, loans, agricultural training and local mentors, our clients are building resilient and sustainable livelihoods. Mary is like so many of the clients I have met who, despite the challenges she has faced, is now able to work towards a better life for her and her family.
By offering a unique combination of training, improvements to livelihoods, and access to financial services, we are able to grow the capability of women like Felicia, a rural smallholder farmer from Rwanda. She has received support from us to grow her farm to make her less subject ot climate shocks from global warming. This help not only enables women to become more financially sustainable, but greatly increases their confidence ot play a ful role ni their families and communities.
Opporunity International believe that offering a hand up rather than a hand out to those that need it most is the best way to see long term change.
