NYAGATARE - About 250 women groups in Gishuro cell, Tabagwe sector in Nyagatare District have collected Rwf60million under local credit and savings schemes.

Speaking to The New Times, some beneficiaries said that the new savings schemes have enabled them to fight against poverty in their families.

"Through financial and leadership support from Care International Rwanda, we have registered tremendous improvement in our lifestyles,” said Valerie Mukamurigo, one of the women.

According to beneficiaries, they set targets every year by collecting savings from all members, every week, in order to successfully meet their targets.

Sperata Kankindi, an employee with Care International’s SAFI project that supports rural women in Tabagwe Sector of the district said that they mainly train women in credit and savings.

"We design books and stamps to facilitate members to keep their credit and savings. The amount collected is kept in a coffer sealed with three padlocks with three bearers. The fourth member keeps the coffer. This is done publicly,” she explained.

Without hiding their excitement, beneficiaries add that the new credit and savings system had transformed their lives.

"Just a few months after joining these groups, I managed to construct a house, bought goats and paid health insurance on time. It is an exciting new lifestyle,” said Monique Nyirabera, a group member.

With only four months remaining to the project’s close, Edward Karangwa, the project consultant on credit and savings in the six districts of Eastern Province expressed confidence that the scheme would not collapse.

"Despite the project approaching its closure, we trained group members on management and they are currently doing everything on their own,” he pointed out.

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