Once a Struggling Farmer, Francoise Now Hops on a Plane for Her Business Trips

Imagine a woman who once woke up every day to the harsh realities of rural life, her hands weathered from tilling the soil, her hopes limited by the crops she could barely sell. Now, picture her stepping onto a plane, from her savings, her ticket to new business opportunities in hand, as she embarks on a journey to expand her empire. This isn’t a fantasy! It’s the extraordinary reality of Francoise, a 34-year-old mother of four, whose life was transformed by the Creating Off-farm Rwandan Enterprises (CORE) Project. 

Once a vulnerable farmer with no savings, Francoise’s story is one of resilience, growth, and the incredible power of empowerment. Today, she hops onto an Aeroplane for a personal business trip-with her hard-earned money. She is soaring, proving that no dream is too far when you are given the tools to succeed.

Francoise’s journey didn’t start with flights or business ventures. It began with the struggles of rural farming life in the hills of Rusizi. Each day, she woke up early, tending to her crops, hoping they would yield enough to feed her children. But there was never enough. Her farm produced just enough to survive, with no extra to save or sell. Financial security felt like an impossible dream.

But all of that changed when the CORE Project, supported and funded by SIDA, came to her village. The project was about empowering people with the knowledge and tools they needed to transform their lives. Francoise was introduced to the power of savings and financial planning, lessons that would change everything.

Before the CORE Project, Francoise had no savings, no access to capital, and no understanding of how to set financial goals. She worked hard, but it never felt like enough. When the project began offering training on savings and goal-setting, Francoise was among the first to seize the opportunity. “Saving wasn’t easy,” she recalls. “But I learned that it wasn’t about having a surplus. It was about making sacrifices today for a better tomorrow.”

Francoise joined a savings group, starting with just 200 Rwandan Francs per month. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. Over time, the group’s contributions grew, and within a year, they had saved enough to make significant changes. Francoise used her share of the savings to expand her farming practices. No longer just growing enough for her family’s consumption, she began to grow crops to sell, earning more and providing a better future for her children.

But that wasn’t the only change. In 2018, Francoise and nine other women formed the “Berwa Munyarwanda” Cooperative, inspired by the lessons of the CORE Project. They were determined to create a sustainable business, and together, they decided to open a wedding hall and catering service. The community lacked a venue for weddings, so they saw an opportunity. They started small, with just five saucepans and catering dishes, but with support from World Vision, they were able to grow their business. “World Vision through the CORE Project provided us with capital, and some materials, and together, we built a wedding hall and catering service that now supports all of us,” Francoise says.

The cooperative quickly became a success, with Francoise and her fellow members earning income from wedding season rentals and catering services. “During the wedding season, we host at least three weddings a month,” she explains. “Each wedding brings in some money, which is shared among the cooperative members. It has transformed our lives.”

But the true proof of Francoise’s transformation came just the night before we met her for this interview. She had boarded a plane to Kigali for a business trip. Francoise, once a vulnerable farmer with no access to capital, was now flying to the capital to explore wholesale prices for products to expand her business. The next morning, she flew back with her two-month-old baby, to meet us in her hometown, Rusizi.

“The change in my life has been incredible,” Francoise reflects, her eyes lighting up. “I never thought I would be able to afford a plane ticket, but now I’m expanding my business to new heights.”

Francoise’s business doesn’t stop at weddings. She also runs a grocery shop, adding another stream of income to support her family. From struggling to survive, she is now thriving as a successful entrepreneur, managing multiple businesses with the confidence and knowledge she gained through the CORE Project.

“The best part is that I’m not just supporting my family,” Francoise says proudly. “I’m showing my children what’s possible when you work hard, make sacrifices, and believe in yourself.”

Through the savings and lending groups, the support from the CORE Project, and her determination, Francoise has created a future for herself that she once thought was impossible. Today, she is a businesswoman, a role model for women everywhere, proving that with the right tools and mindset, anything is possible.

With empowerment through World Vision Rwanda’s CORE project which was generously funded by SIDA, she has gone from a vulnerable farmer to a thriving entrepreneur.