Rwanda

Mediatrice Nyirahabimana in a hairdressing salon
“I believe in a very good future. I plan to start my own hairdressing salon” says Mediatrice Nyirahabimana. © SDC

Mediatrice Nyirahabimana, hairdresser

“I am 29 years old and a mother of one child. I abandoned school at the age of 17 because of an unwanted pregnancy and because I was infected with HIV/AIDS. From that day on I was traumatised. I could not find a job and always had to beg for my basic needs.

One day I heard a communication from Kamembe sector, mobilising vulnerable people who wanted to register for a short-term vocational training course supported by Switzerland. Together with some other young women, we made a training request in hairdressing. The course lasted 42 days.

One month after the training, I am able to provide my basic needs since I earn at least 6,000 Rwandan francs (RWF) every week. I believe in a very good future. I plan to start my own hairdressing salon and expect to earn RWF 80,000 every month. I thank Switzerland.”

Corresponding project

Promoting off-farm employment and income in the Great Lakes region