Evariste Nzeyimana lives in Macuba Sector of Nyamasheke District in the Western Province and is a beneficiary of the Vision 2020 Umurenge Program (VUP). 

Like other residents of Nyamasheke who joined VUP a few years ago, Nzeyimana says his life has started to improve, thanks to a loan he got at a time when he was in the first category of Ubudehe.

"Before joining VUP, I was very weak financially; I used to spend all the money I had on buying foodstuffs," says Nzeyimana, who's in his early 50s.

"I got a loan of Rwf100,000 in VUP financial support and with Rwf100,000 I already had at the time, I managed to buy a cow."

Nzeyimana later sold the cow at Rwf300,000 and started a small boutique in his village, retailing consumables such soap, sugar, rice, soft drinks and other merchandise.

"When I am away for other activities, my wife stays at the boutique," he says.

The government social protection program VUP started in 2008 in 30 sectors to lift vulnerable households out of poverty.

The program, implemented by the Local Administrative Entities Development Agency (LODA), provided direct support and paid public works, such as road maintenance, for people in the former first and second Ubudehe categories; and in 2013 VUP expanded to include financial assistance services in all sectors countrywide.

Like Nzeyimana, Beatrice Nyirandimubanzi joined the VUP program when she was a daily wage earner. 

"I earned Rwf700 a day, and that money could pay only for meals," says Nyirandimubanzi, a mother of four children.

After getting an interest-free loan of Rwf150,000, she joined a savings cooperative of 20 women.

Nyirandimubanzi says she and her husband decided to buy a cow, which would provide manure for their farm.

"Now, we harvest 100kg of beans where we used to get barely 50kg. I pay Mutuelle de Sante for my family and I want to enroll one of my children into a TVET school," she says.

Nyirandimubanzi and Nzeyimana assert that their wealth status has changed positively and they're ready to graduate from the lowest Ubudehe category.

"The social protection program VUP has helped poverty reduction efforts in our district," says Appolonie Mukamasabo, the Mayor of Nyamasheke.

"As the administration, we assist the beneficiaries through the journey from poverty by teaching them how to use the money they get from public works and direct support as well as the financial support."

According to the district's figures, 19,204 people have benefited from more than Rwf3,8 billion in financial support since 2013.

Over 80,000 people have taken part in paid public works, which have cost a budget of over Rwf5.87 billion.

"We are confident that future surveys will better demonstrate our district's performance in poverty reduction," Mukamasabo adds.

According to LODA, the VUP program has been growing since its introduction thanks to collaborative efforts by the government and development partners.

"The VUP started with a budget of Rwf2.58 billion and , with its expanded activities today, the program has a budget of Rwf50-60 billion, with 300,000 households as beneficiaries," says Justine Gatsinzi, the Division Manager of Social Protection at LODA.

"The VUP we have today cares for people with disabilities; and it has expanded to include early childhood development. This shows us that our government is committed to the elevation of vulnerable citizens."