NORTHERN PROVINCE

GICUMBI — The notion of disability is not inability comes to reality when you visit women Living With Disabilities (LWD) in Byumba town.

The women have made tremendous strides in uplifting their economic wellbeing by working through associations to set up small scale income generating activities.

In an interview with The New Times last week, Byumba-based physically impaired women said their vision is to eradicate poverty among all women living with disabilities in the district. 

Patricie Uwanziga is a physically impaired mother of three and proprietor of the Byumba Market Twisungane Sewing project. Her project, which employs other eight women living with physical disabilities, is engaged in sewing of pullovers and table cloths.

"I started this business with one machine way back in 2002, using my own resources and now I have five sewing machines,” said Uwanziga.

Twisungane Sewing project attracts customers from secondary and primary schools around Byumba town and beyond.

"Each pullover costs Rwf5000, while the price of one table cloth is about Rwf3000,” she said, adding that her products are made on command.

Another income generating project for Byumba physically impaired women, engaged in similar business is called Duhugurane Association.

The chairperson of Duhugurane Association, Didacienne Nagasanzwe,  says their association is comprised of 11 members, whose livelihood has been uplifted through sewing pullovers and table cloths.

Both Duhugurane and Twisungane sewing associations have the vision to expand their businesses to other districts in the country.

"Due to orders from many customers countrywide, we intend to expand our businesses to other parts of the country,” said the association’s secretary, Francoise Nyirakimonyo. She appealed to government and partners in development to support them expand their businesses.

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