Claudine Dusabimana is 38 years old and is a single mother raising two beautiful children: her daughter, Carine, who is 12, and her son, Clever, who is 4. She was born in Rulindo district but now lives in Rinini village, Gahanga sector, Kicukiro district, Kigali City.
Claudine’s life has not been easy. After completing secondary school and earning her diploma in 2011, she had dreams of finding a stable job. But life took a tragic turn: she became a single mom prematurely, leaving her with deep emotional scars and an unplanned pregnancy. The perpetrator fled the country, and she never heard from him again. Overwhelmed by pain, she struggled with loneliness and despair, even battling thoughts of suicide and revenge. But in her darkest moments, she found strength in her faith. “God is my strength; He is all for me,” she says.
Since 2021, Hands of Compassion Rwanda (HACORWA) has been by her side, providing support for her children and bringing women like her together to find hope and solidarity. Claudine is trusted by her group members, and they elected her as their saving group leader. Through HACORWA’s savings groups, Claudine has found stability. The saving and lending from the group helps her pay rent without constant worry. When they shared out savings, she was able to buy shoes and clothes for her children and invest $100 in a small charcoal-selling business.
Still, she dreams of growing her business further: “My capital is too small. If I could get at least $300, I could make more profit,” she says. Right now, each sack of charcoal brings her just $2 in profit; but with more sacks, she could build a sustainable income.
Beyond financial security, Claudine’s deepest hope is for her children’s future. “I pray that my children study well. I want them to have a good life—I don’t want my daughter to go through the misfortune I did. I want her to study and fill the gap I could not fill myself.”
Her dreams are simple but powerful: profit, less stress, a stable home. “Why not have my own house?” she says with determination.
Despite the hardships she has faced, Claudine is standing strong, filled with hope for tomorrow. Thanks to the support of HACORWA and her unwavering faith, she is building a future she can be proud of—for herself and her children.
