NYAGATARE – Grace Mukasine, the leader of Abamararungu, a women’s reconciliation association in Matimba sector, Nyagatare district, poses for a photo shot after picking eggs from the association’s poultry project.  

At Mukasine’s home, noise of hundreds of chicken reared in a house is what welcomes you.

Next to the chicken house are three crossbreed cows that feed her children and provide fertilisers for their gardens.
The poultry project, according to Mukasine, has improved livelihood for forty members of the association, while promoting reconciliation.

From just Rwf400, 000 donated by the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC), the association has so far made millions from the project.

‘Our association focuses on reconciliation and production to improve our livelihoods. We started with chicken rearing and the first production lifted us to acquire two more hectares of land for pineapple production,’ Mukasine says.

‘I have managed to send my first born to the university and three others are yet to complete secondary school. The same development applies to other association members. Our mission is to ensure that our children are all educated,’ she said.

Mukasine believes that the sky is the limit.
‘We get 180 eggs every day, with one egg sold at Rwf70, we get a total profit of Rwf378, 000 per month,” she said.

According to Mukasine, the association started with 90 members but later the number diminished to 40, as a result of the land re-distribution exercise where some members relocated elsewhere.

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