You have probably seen a photo of her making rounds on social media, sitting by the roadside, concentrating on her books while at the same time selling fruits to support her family. The photo captioned “at work” which was first shared by social media user Tito Harerimana on May 14, touched the hearts of many, who sought to reach out and support 18-year-old Amina Uwikuzo and her family. A fundraiser has since been started on SavePlus where many kind-hearted people are contributing, while others have reached out directly to the family with financial support. The New Times visited Uwikuzo and her family in Rwampara cell, Gikondo sector, Kicukiro District where they live in a rented house. Amina Uwikuzo does homework after the interview at her home. Photos/Willy Mucyo The fourth child of six siblings, the bubbly teenager is not distracted by the attention the photo has got her. Her plight has touched many hearts in and out of Rwanda. Supporting her widowed mother, Marciana Mujawimana, is something she does without feeling shy that her peers will laugh at her, as any adolescent would. Uwikuzo knew there was no other way when her father, the sole breadwinner, passed on in 2019. The determination of the S3 student at Groupe Scolaire Mburabuturo is out of this world and not common among teenagers. “When our father passed away in 2019, life changed tremendously. I talked to my mother regarding how to support her. We agreed that before she goes for her other job as a house-help, she buys fruits and leaves them at home. The photo of Uwituzo reading will selling fruits that went viral. Photo/ Net “I make sure that as soon as we break in the evening, I run home before it gets dark and try to sell as much as I can. I also use the opportunity to try and read to catch up with my school work. I have been doing this for three years now,” Uwikuzo says. The photo was taken without her knowledge and when it went viral after it was posted on social media, Harerimana went back to the same place she was photographed and apologised to her and explained that some people are willing to support her. Surprisingly, Uwikuzo didn’t seem bothered by the attention. Her focus remains on supporting her mother and balancing it with her studies. “I try to balance both, selling the fruits and my studies. I make sure nothing affects the other. I make sure I check the timetable and balance the subjects. I allocate time to the subjects accordingly, if it is physics for example, I try to ask my friends whenever there is something I don’t understand and I also help them in other subjects. I use the ample time when I go back home to read a bit more when others are sleeping,” says Uwikuzo, who appears somewhat mature for her age. A closer look at her, you realise the routine exhausts her, if she had a choice, she would certainly focus on her studies alone but that is not a luxury she can enjoy right now. She is not letting all this affect her dream of becoming a scientist. “I want to pursue maths, physics and chemistry and I hope I am given these subjects at A-level,” she says. Not shy Uwikuzo says that she is not shy to do what she does. She knows her age mates can laugh at her situation but she is unbothered. “I do what I do for myself and for my family. It is not a burden to me at all. People can say whatever they want but this is for me and for my family,” says Uwikuzo, who says in future she would want to establish a foundation to support children in a similar situation. “Right now, I am focusing on lifting myself up and my family but in future I would wish to start a foundation to support children in vulnerable conditions,” Uwikuzo says. As an 18-year-old, distractions are expected, boys and other temptations, but that is not her focus now. Her dream is to actually start a business for her mother, though now business is mostly about survival and living one day at a time. “We still rent the house we live in and my mum still has to pay school dues for my other siblings, so that is what we are focusing on now,” Uwikuzo says, adding that she could not sit back and watch her mother do everything by herself. Family Speaking about her daughter, Mujawimana, says Uwikuzo is a very humble and intelligent girl, who is so passionate about her studies and contributing to the family. The 45-year-old mother of six says that Uwikuzo started vending fruits after her father passed on in 2019. “When my husband died, I had to look for several jobs to support my family, but it wasn’t easy. So, I decided to try out selling fruits and vegetables from the small capital I had. “Amina has been extremely helpful. She goes to school at 7am and returns at 5pm. That’s when she starts vending until 8pm. She usually carries her books to revise or do her assignments. She first vends fruits before going to her next job, where she works as a part-time house-help. Uwikuzo takes over when she returns from school. Her mother says she has been doing that for the past three years. Mujawimana says Uwikuzo does what she does without shame because she knows that that’s where they earn a living and get money to pay school fees. Her elder sister, Rehema Umutoni, is also full of praise for Uwikuzo, whom she says is not only humble but also prayerful. “I cannot find enough words to describe her. She is respectful and listens to everyone. She does whatever she does with passion,” Umutoni, 24, says, adding that even the attention the photo brought has not altered her character. “The fame she has got from her photo going viral will encourage her to work even harder because people recognise what she is doing and it will inspire all of us to do whatever we can to boost our livelihoods,” Umutoni says. She hopes that the attention which she has received will materialise into something life-changing, especially with many people looking to support her dream of setting up a sustainable business for her mother. You can reach Uwikuzo and her mother on 0782615870.
