From where I stand, it is important to raise a resilient community for women and girls to grow economically

Amida Uwingabire is well known in Gasorwe – Muyinga in Burindu for her passion for the work she does with women and young girls. She is an entrepreneur, a driver of her own taxi, a restaurant chef, and runs the cooperative -gro-pastoral- association called “Assistance to divorced women and young girls who have given birth at their parents’ home”. It is made up of 10 girls and 20 women.

From a difficult life to an opportunity

After suffering domestic violence in her marriage where her ex-husband stabbed her more than once, Amida decided to separate from her husband to regain her freedom and bring up her young daughter.

When she looks back at where she came from and what she is doing today, she has only one desire, only one cry for all those who listen to her.

“Whatever obstacles you encounter, overcome them by working even harder. If I had spent a lot of time complaining and thinking about my problems, I would not be where I am today. Some people can suffer from mental illness or even be suicidal, but I chose to persevere and today I can pay for my child's education. Similarly, never despise work. You can have a degree but still sell tomatoes. If people criticize you, do not listen to them. Keep working!” she said with utmost confidence.

Entering formal trade

Women, who make up the majority of traders, are exposed to risks such as extortion, verbal and physical harassment. As far as she is concerned, informal trade escapes taxation and the regulations in force. “I was working alone and losing a lot of money,” says Amida, who used to sell tomatoes. “The country was also losing money because there was corruption and I wasn't informed about my commercial activities. I cheated by working at night, with all the risks that a woman runs”. Since entering the formal sector, Amida, through their women's cooperative, has been selling goods with higher benefit, including processed products.

Relations with processing companies

Amida Uwingabire is one of hundreds of women who have taken part in meetings with companies that process local products with high nutritional value, to help them formalize their businesses. As part of the Aide Alimentaire Programmée (Programmed Food Aid) project funded by France, implemented by UN Women in Burundi, representatives of women's associations took part in local fairs to meet potential buyers, establish business relationships, sell their products and promote the consumption of local flours and other foods with high nutritional value as a strategy for combating malnutrition in the community.

Amida's women friends presented their products - including rice, soya flour, maize, white sorghum and handicrafts - at the local fair in Gasorwe last summer. They made their first sales and established nearly 200 connections for future sales.

Like Amida Uwingabire, Belise Manirakiza from the “With God Company - WIGO” and Sifa Nihorimbere from the “Tuve Hasi” cooperative (which means “Stand Up” and has 198 members) - these women entrepreneurs participated and connected well at the Gasorwe fair. Through this organized meeting, they were able to do business legally and transparently. They learned how to comply with the rules of trade with their license, their tax identification number (TIN) and how to obtain a simplified partnership contract, on the basis of which they can make the necessary payments, including the payment of taxes.