She defied stereotypes to become taxi-moto rider

Poverty is is a big threat to most people around the world, and it is no different for Pelagie Ndacyayisenga. It all began with being brought up in a poor family that could not even afford school fees for her and her siblings. This saw her drop out of school when she had only reached primary four. Ndacyayisenga, 27, hails from Mushubati Sector in Rutsiro District. She left her family when she was 17 years old in search of a better life. “As I grew up, my needs increased and I realised that no one would help me and that is when I resolved to go in search of any job,” she said. “I moved to Huye District where I worked as a house-maid for seven years. It was a survival job, from the salary, I could only afford to buy basic needs, but it was still better than staying home.” As a young girl she always had a dream of becoming either a driver or a motocycle taxi operator (Taxi-moto). But being a female and having grown up in a rural area, she never had hope that one day, her dream would come true. “After I moved to Huye, I gradually realised my dream could one day come to pass. I started saving a little money and after some months I enrolled in a driving school and got a provisional driver’s license,” Ndacyayisenga narrated. She then started learning how to ride a motorcycle as she prepared to do her final driver’s license exam.Ndacyayisenga failed her first practical test but she never got discouraged. “I continued to train until I finally past the test. I then resigned from my job as a house-maid and started looking for a motorcycle to ride. ‘‘I got one and reached an agreement with the owner that I work while paying him for two years and then own it after the agreed amount of money was paid to him. I worked hard and paid him even before the agreed time elapsed,” she said. Ndacyayisenga used to ply Karongi and Rusizi roads but she currently operates in Musanze District, where she lives with her husband, Emmanuel Rukundo. She got married a year ago. Her husband runs a retail shop. She explained that being a motorcyclist does not affect her relationship with her husband. “We complement each other, he does not complain because he knew I was a motorist even before we got married and we are both working hard for a better future,” Achievements Ndacyayisenga earns around Rwf200, 000 per month which she uses to meet their family demands. “We are living a better life since my husband also works, I am so thankful that God has helped me ‘graduate’ from poverty. I am committed to working even harder to achieve more,” she said. Appeal for support Ndacyayisenga, however, believes that though she now leads a self-reliant life, she would be grateful if she got support from well wishers to buy a new motorcycle since the one she rides has many mechanical problems. “I acquired the motorcycle when it was second hand and by the time I finished paying for it, it was too old. I would love to get another new one, I am now doing well and it would be unfortunate if my journey ended here,” she lamented. Ndacyayisenga’s dream is to graduate from riding a motorcycle to driving a car. “I also wish to acquire skills in general mechanics and repair technologies,” she said. ‘‘I have no problem with my wife riding a motocyclebecause she earns a living from it. She also performs her roles as a wife and supports our family which proves that what a man can do, a woman can do,” said Rukundo, Ndacyayisenga’s husband. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

Lifestyle

She defied stereotypes to become taxi-moto rider