Substance abuse has destroyed the lives of many Rwandan youth, with society throwing in the towel on many of them.

However, there is a good number of such youth who have worked tirelessly in rehabilitation centres to overcome their addictions, restore hope and transform their lives.

After leaving the rehabilitation centres, former addicts are likely to give up while on their road to recovery. But, Tailoring and Training Imbaraga z’Igihugu, a cooperative formed by former drug and alcohol addicts who chose the right path – to recover by working together – gives a glimmer of hope.

Papias Hategekimana, the president of the cooperative, shared his journey.

His journey from being a drug addict to becoming a professional tailor, was not easy.

After losing all his parents at the tender age of 11, he was raised by a family friend in Kigali.

But he was not treated well by the foster family and ended up on the streets where he was introduced to different drugs.

"I started abusing drugs because my friends were into it. I wanted to be like them so that they could fully trust and accept me. Eventually, I couldn’t help it. I was addicted and couldn’t stop,” the 31-year-old said, shedding light on how his journey into self-destruction began.

"I had no purpose in life. I was homeless without any future plans or dreams. I thought I had found an escape in drugs. Back then, I was young and naive. Had I known what I know now, I probably wouldn't have abused drugs."

The best thing that happened in my life

Ironically, he recalls, his life changed – for the better – when he was detained in Nyabugogo bus park for street vending. In Kigali, and other Rwandan cities, street vending is considered as illegal business.

When arrested by the Police, Hategekimana was immediately taken to Gikondo Transit Centre. After a few days, he was heading to Iwawa Rehabilitation and Training Centre in Western Province.

Spending a whole year at Iwawa "was probably the best thing that happened in my life,” he said.

Iwawa is a small island in Lake Kivu in Rutsiro District, in western Rwanda. It is a rehabilitation centre for drug addicts.

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Founded in 2010 to give street children a chance to forge a career off the streets, the centre has, among others, experts on handling psychological disorders. Rehabilitated youngsters learn different vocational skills from there.

At Iwawa, the first six first months are dedicated to rehabilitation while the second phase of six months is for vocational training.

"When I was in the rehab center, the recovery journey was not easy. But thanks to the program, we were able to fully recover. We were warned that discipline was key to continue with the programmes. So, I decided to quit. I feared that abusing drugs would cost me an opportunity to live a better life.”

He believes Iwawa saved him from ‘drowning’ and gave him new hope and dreams.

"Being integrated at Iwawa was a game changer. Since the arrest my life was never the same.”

In vocational training at Iwawa he opted for tailoring classes and became very passionate about it.

After graduating from the program, Hategekimana worked in different tailoring houses and became highly experienced. He decided he would form a cooperative with other former drug addicts so as to advocate for a brighter future as well as support newly rehabilitated addicts who want to learn tailoring.

Hategekimana started the idea with three fellow tailors who attended rehabilitation centers in different periods.

They started with only three tailoring machines.

They now have more than 10 working machines worth about Rwf10 million.

Seraphine Dushimimana, the only female in the cooperative of 10 members, joined from Gitagata Rehabilitation Centre.

She said that girls with a drug addiction background tend to keep it secret.

"There are young women who had the same experience but can’t come out and join us, thinking that this could tarnish their image,” she said.

"But for me, the rehabilitation part was the best time of my life. It helped me overcome my addiction problem. In addition, it gave me a respectful career. I am no longer the street girl I used to be,” the mother of three added, cheerfully.

Their working place is situated in one of the busiest sections of Nyarugenge district, in the Ndaru Arcades building.

The cooperative especially designs and sells women and men clothes.

They are planning to recruit other graduates from rehabilitation centers.