Success in any engagement requires hard work. Some economists say it’s also about commitment to a systematic savings plan.

While many think saving requires big income, residents in Nduba Sector in Gasabo District have demonstrated a simple way to accumulate wealth over time by setting a systematic savings plan that they committed to.

The group has made strides under their cooperative, Nduba SACCO, which has widely sensitised women to save by putting aside a coin or Igiceri.

Igiceri savings programme is a scheme by Nduba residents to save their coins as opposed to spending them.

The programme, established in November 2014, reuqires a member to save at least Rwf100 a day.

The cooperative has managed to raise over Rwf68 million through the igiceri savings scheme since then.

Over 50 per cent of the cooperative’s members are women.

Gaudance Mukagasana, a member of Igiceri savings programme, told The New Times that members save Rwf100 or more daily and a treasurer collects the money at the end of the week.

"The money saved belongs to the individual and they can withdraw it in case of an emergency. The savings scheme is aimed at ensuring financial independence for women. The point is not to waste money thinking it is insignificant yet it can accumulate overtime,” Mukagasana said.

She has faced no challenges participating in the Igiceri programme but instead continually witnesses growth and improved standards of living for herself and fellow women.

"I was one of the pioneers of this programme and after much sensitisation and basing on the merits that other women are enjoying, I was awarded a cow. Igiceri programme is a project I am passionate about as I see it going a long way in uplifting the lives of rural women,” she said.

Bertin Ntuyahaga and his wife Pelagie Mukamuhizi are proud members of the savings group.

"We used to spend coins recklessly, but after joining the igiceri savings programme, we started saving them. To imagine that we used savings from coins as collateral to get a loan from our cooperative which we used to start our own salon is much fulfilling,’’ Ntuyayaga said.

Mukamuhizi said: "Before joining the igiceri scheme, it was difficult to feed my children a proper meal, but today our lives have changed so much for the better. Not only is my family well fed, we are also able to send our children to school with all required scholastic materials.”

Fredrick Nsengimana, the treasurer of Nduba Sacco, said a savings culture should be emphasised among all Rwandans as it is one of the ways they can firmly achieve financial independence to further contribute to national development.

"We realised that people’s attitude to coins saw them wasting them. Starting the igiceri programme among Nduba residents was our way of ensuring that they saved their coins instead. It is great to see grassroot solutions help to eradicate poverty among residents,” he said.

Jackline Kamanzi, the executive secretary of the National Women Council, lauded the SACCO, saying the igiceri savings programme is an eye opener.

For women, especially, she said, it was a significant step toward achieving gender equality and economic empowerment.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw