In February 2024, I traveled to Kayonza District in the Eastern Province of Rwanda. The relief of this district is made of many hills and slopes whose altitude varies between 1400 and 1600 m. (This information is courtesy of the Kayonza District.) Kayonza is also the home of Akagera National Park, a popular tourist destination for safaris, and is home to all of the Big Five animals. My mission was to capture the impactful changes of cooperatives in people’s daily lives.
As the government of Rwanda convinces the citizens that cooperatives will greatly contribute to the achievement of the vision of the country and that the role of cooperatives in contributing to the regional, international, and national development agendas, as well as promoting inclusive, sustainable development and economic transformation, is the driving force behind the formulation of this policy.
Mukazitoni Justine is the accountant and active member of a women’s chicken farming cooperative where they raise chickens for meat and eggs. The cooperative is based in Kayonza district, Rwinkwavu sector, Mukoyoyo cell, and Bishenyi village. Justine has five children and two grandchildren. She loves her family and reveals that her family is the main reason for her hard work. Her daily work at the cooperative marks her potential, whereby she does her part as a member, like feeding the chickens and packing eggs into trays.
In addition to the regular work shared by all members, she also serves as the cooperative’s accountant. Justine noted that their initial capital was provided by Akagera National Park to support their growth and enhance their livelihoods. Notably, through their hard work, they have significantly grown their capital, enabling each member to receive a dividend.
After listening to the amazing story of Justine and her fellow cooperative members, I was curious about her personal achievements facilitated by her being a cooperative member, and she said that her life really improved after she joined the cooperative, considering that she went to different workshops across the country, helped her husband renovate their house, and also brought all their kids to school.
“INKOKO NI UBUZIMA, IGI RYAMPINDURIYE UBUZIMA” Said Justine
