Vivane Musabyimana had almost resigned to fate after her family spent years without land to cultivate. 

Born into a poor, illiterate family in Burera District, she was not educated which made life even harder.

And even when she got married, her new family equally had no land. That forced her and her husband to start working on people’s farms for survival.

"It became worse when I delivered as we were incapable of providing for the child,” she says.

The mother of two recalls that on several occasions they went without food.

But Musabyimana regained hope after her family was selected among 200 most vulnerable households that would benefit from a poverty eradication project dubbed, ‘Food security and community livelihood’.

The project is funded by Partners in Health (PIH), a non-profit organisation whose mission is to provide a preferential option for the poor in healthcare.

It has been operating in the area for more than a year.

Some beneficiaries live with HIV or have some chronic diseases, while others are too poor to fend for their children.

They are all residents of Bugwe in Burera District.

"We were advised to join cooperatives and work together to eradicate poverty. Months later, we were given seedlings to cultivate,” Musabyimana, a member of Duharanire Iterambere cooperative said.

In cooperatives, residents have rented farms they cultivate.

The PIH food security and livelihood project supports vulnerable families to merge efforts and eradicate poverty.

The project also gave the beneficiaries a total of 650 rabbits, layers to each family, and 80 sheep, among others.

PHI spent over Rwf3 million to rent land in the area for Irish potato growing and improved seed multiplication.

In addition, the project supplied vegetable seeds, and is promoting mushroom cultivation.

Musabyimana says her family’s living conditions have since improved. "My children are no longer malnourished. I engage in farming and though I have no land of my own yet, I hope to get it soon.”

"We also share experience and advise each other on lots of things,” she says of the cooperative members.

Servilien Gakwenza, another member, said through the cooperative he has learnt about modern crop and livestock farming. "Joining a cooperative taught me how to modernise agriculture, I am eager to work hard to achieve more. I will put more efforts in maize and vegetable growing”.

Bugwe is among the sectors of Burera district with large numbers of poor people.

PIH deputy executive director Antoinette Habinshuti said that besides extending support in health care, they assist vulnerable people in several ways.

"We want to help patients that we treat. (In this area), we gave support to our former patients and they are working hard to uplift themselves from poverty. Once they get more produce, we shall buy it to feed our patients,” Habinshuti said.

Local leaders in the area commended PIH for supporting the vulnerable households.