Nos amis de toujours sont absents
Know this also
The Printernet Project is a key to success. Implanted in a rural village where electricity and the Internet are the main challenges, this project has changed many.
- Though the weekly and bilingual newspaper, rural villagers are able to learn strange language.
- Though an English Class, rural villagers are able to use strange language.
- Through the entrepreneurs workshop, readers have to know what is happening on the ground.
- Through the Village Savings and Loans Associations groups, rural villagers and farmers are saving for a good future.
What we don’t have by now:
A. Official office where consciousness will be on top.
B. Solar panels system not installed
C. Computer skills, devices recharge shop
D. World games pay watch
E. Regenerative lessons, …
I think on this every day. The land and bricks are available. Help us to build it. Our wish is to enter the third memory of the founder with with a working office. Help us to get there.
Note: When we ping people in our post, it doesn’t mean the fellow has supported the project. Not at all.
FPI-MENYA weekly report
The Village Savings and Loans Association project is shaping the villages. This project aims to change the mentality of some villagers for who savings need to be well explained.
During this week, all the groups owned by FPI-MENYA gathered for the savings activities. In Bwoga rural village, four groups are active. The first group to be created gather Saturday at 7:00 AM. At 3:00 PM, the remaining groups gather in two different places. For these groups, FPI-MENYA community leaders are able to follow them up without any problem.
Every Monday at 2:00PM, another group gather for the savings activities. Located far from my home, it is impossible to follow them up every day. Once a month, leaders jump to the place to meet group members and answer to their questions. The same activities took place in Mwaro province where FPI-MENYA has two active groups. In the city of Bujumbura, one group is working. All the eighth groups gathered without any problem. It is not easy to get the record of loans and money brought back as interest. To get this at the right time, we need to have smartphones for group leaders with which they instantly give report. Right now, eight smartphones are needed right now. If you want to reach out to us, fill free to con
Let’s go together
As promised recently, the word about FPI-MENYA is being spread in many places. The project is now covering three provinces. Femmes dévouées is the eighth group intitiated and led by FPI-MENYA.
Starting a group is not easy but it is doable. The aim of FPI-MENYA is to have at least one group at every hill. To arrive there, we will start to create one group and from there, we will create others.
Don’t say you are unable…
Jean Paul Hakizimana, our community leader testifies:” I was very surprised surprised by being elected as community leader in West region. I didn’t know where to start. Our National leader coached me and I found the way. He told me that the first step is to find one person who understands Village Savings and Loans Association. After I found that women, I explained to here what I wanted her to do. Introducing FPI-MENYA to her, she was convinced and asked me to give her two months. Their first meeting was held this November 1, 2022. It is a group of 26 women. They save weekly. An amount of two thousands bif are saved. I appreciate how our national leader is moving: one group at a time. I believe that this project will reach to the unreached. Helping them to have access to a microlending”.
From Gitega to Bujumbura, the journey is between 100 kms and 110 kms. FPI-MENYA is helping rural villagers, citizens and towners to change their mind. These two organizations are moving slowly, with the goal of covering the whole country.
The challenge in front of us is community leaders and group leaders who are untrained. Also, we are unable to coordinate them at the same moment.
If you are willing to help us challenge one of our challenges, you are free to connect to us.
FPI-MENYA Magazine
Two are stronger than one
Two organizations: Farmer’s Pride International (FPI) and Menya Foundation have started the creation of self-help microfinance groups in Burundi. As FPI works with Farmers and Menya Foundation cares for rural villagers and rural entrepreneurs, a new step has been made: convincing Société Cooperative Agropastorale du Burundi SAPABU to start with Village Savings and Loans Association groups. It was not easy, but we did it.
Joining hands for one purpose
“I saw a page on Facebook. I realized that it publishes stories about savings. I first of all liked and followed it in order to keep updated. Regularly reading their posts, I decided to send a message to the page administration. I was answered in one hour. In our converzation, I asked if it was possible to help our members to start with saving groups. My request was accepted and we are ready to honor the obligation of being partner of Farmer’s Pride International – Menya. We are very happy to be accepted as their members”; Alexis Nduwamahoro, founder and President of SAPABU.
Farmer’s Pride International and Menya as agents of change...
SAPABU is a cooperative operating in the area of seeds multiplication. Farmer’s Pride International-Menya leadership is proud to have partnered with this local cooperative located in Gitega and Karusi provinces. Farming is their mission. Now, they start the journey of savings. This first group is for women only. For men, they don’t see the importance of gathering in order to save. “ To convince men is a must. We want to see them saving like women. In the upcoming months, we will initiate a group of men. Let’s change their mentality”; Canon Felix, Farmer’s Pride International-Menya embassador.
Challenge to be challenged
The Village Savings and Loans Association are not well organized in this country. Although there are International NGOs who has started groups, leaders groups (including they of FPI-Menya) are untrained. This is an obstacle to a good development. Another challenge is related to communication. Farmer’s Pride International-Menya has groups in two provinces. Groups leaders not know each other. They don’t communicate. It would be good if they have a group in which we communicate virtually before FPI-MENYA leaders gather them physically. If you want to reach out to us, drop a message in the comments section
Let’s join our hands as one man for one purpose.
Farmer’s Pride International–Menya Magazine.
Working in rural villages for rural villagers Part 2
Working in rural villages is not easy. That is why many organizations stay in town or headquarters of the city, trying to connect with rural villagers. Most of workshops are attended by towners and citizens. Rarely, rural villagers are invited.
Menya-FPI is already working with them. Remember that rural areas are challenged by the lack of safe water, electricity and internet. When we go to visit our groups, we go with power banks and all we will need in the journey.
Menya-FPI is changing lives…
Immaculée testifying: “First of all, I want to thank Menya-FPI to have started and running this project of teaching rural and unprivileged villagers to save some money of their income. Before I join this group, I was considered as inactive in my family. My husband is a drunk man and don’t care of our family. After one year, I have what to show and to say about this project. In one word, my manner of thinking changed.
I heard about Menya-FPI when my husband was invited to attend a workshop organized by Menya. I tried to connect to them. Although I wanted to join, I didn’t see from where I will get money to save, because I am the only one to care about our family of seven members. When I met some of the leaders of Menya-FPI, they convinced me and have shown me how I will be getting the money to save. One of them told me:” Most of rural villagers work in the farms of their boss and are daily paid. In this your salary, try to keep some money so that you will be able to join others in that journey”. With these words, I tried to apply what he said and I saw it is very easy. Now, I have bought some goats and pigs, I am able to pay school fees for my children. Our group members are all women. Really, this project is changing lives, especially women for who it was difficult to own they own money, begging everything from their husband. Nowadays, I am trying to teach my husband to create one group at least. I plan to buy a land after the actual circle. The challenge is that I don’t get a loan according to what I want to do. My wish is that Menya-FPI helps us to get to that level. We are together with them”.
Some men don’t let their wives join groups. Others give money to their wives. In the upcoming years, Menya-FPI will gather group members and rural farmers in order to teach them why it is good to save. In this journey of impacting rural villagers and farmers, Menya-FPI will cover the whole country. Slowly, but surely. To get there, we need to join our hands as one man for one purpose.
If you want to reach out to us, notify us in the comments section.
Menya-FPI Magazine
One of what we will be doing in agribusiness
https://photos.app.goo.gl/j8UHuXA8o9XcpqS27
Menya Project
ROLE NEEDED
Problems & difficulties :
– preservability of cassava flour,
– lack of staffs.
* Probable solution : Transformation of beat cassava into Semolina.
* Resources available :
i. People : 30
ii. Land : available
iii. Tools : 15 hoes
iv. Machinery : don’t have.
v. Seeds and plants : available.
vi. Other: desplacement
* Resources needed :
1. watercan
2. fertilizer
3. 5 hoes
4. Rasping machine
5. Panels
* Meeting with members; rent of the land : Members of the Foundation.
* Preparation of the land + digging the digs + fertilizer + seeds of cassava trees :
a.digging digs
b. farming
c.fertilization
d. purchase of the seeds
* Plantation : hoes & working labor
* Weed ( 1st time ) : hoes & working labor
* Weed( 2nd time ): hoes & working labor
* Harvest : hoes, shoven & working labor.
* Transformation of beat cassava into sweet cassava floor ( Semolina ) :
– 4 basins
– Rasping machine
– 50 bags
– Knifes
– Panels
* Share of the production of Semolina : Scale
Implementation of a new project : pay rent fees.
==================
ASSIGNED TO
* Resources available : people = working labor
* Meeting with members of the Foundation : Launch of the project
* Preparation of the land + digging the digs + fertilizer + seeds of cassava trees : preparation of the land
*Plantation : Plant
* Harvest : gather the production
* Transformation of beat cassava into sweet cassava floor ( Semolina ) : Processing raw cassava into Semolina
*Implementation of a new project : preparation and run of the project.
================
CONSULTANT EXPERT
1.
TO DO BY DATE
*Resources available :
– people : permanently
– land : permanently
– tools : permanently
– Machinery : March 2019
– seeds and plants : October 2018
– Other: April 2019
*Resources needed : May 2019 .
==================
NOTES/FOLLOW
* Meeting with members; rent of the land : done.
***********************************************
Menya wanted to jump into agribusiness starting 2018. Unfortunately, we met problems and we were obliged to stop this project. As we will be running agriculture projects, processing beat cassava into semolina will be among these projects. Let’s join our hands as one man for one purpose
Working in rural villages for rural villagers – part 1
Started in 2019, the villages savings and loans schemes have reached many places today. Our mission is rural villages.
How the project is going…
Menya started by one group with fifteen members. This was in 2019. Menya leadership was encouraged by the visitation of someone from the USA. After that visitation, Menya decided to start other groups. 2020 was the year when we were able to start other groups. Although it was not easy, Menya was coordinating four groups, all of them are located in the rural area of Gitega District.
New partnership, new steps forward
In some months ago, Menya got a partnership with Farmers Pride International. This partnership brought new strength to Menya who is now moving to cover all the country. Nowadays, there are five groups in Gitega and two in Mwaro province. This is a good step. Our journey will help us to have one group by every hill.
The challenges to be challenged.
We are proud of helping rural villagers to save some money of their income. There challenges to which we are facing today. The first challenge is about group leaders who are untrained. The second challenge is that fact that members don’t have access to desired loans. These two challenges are blocking us. The third challenge is related to the coordinating the groups. There are a little ng way from Bwoga to Masenga where we have a group of women. We have the same problem to go from Gitega to Mwaro.
Many people, especially women are responding to this project, saving to prepare themselves for a good future. We are committed to being present in the whole country.
Menya Magazine
The invaluable partnership
Starting this day, let it be known that Menya Foundation is a partner of Farmers Pride International (FPI). On the ground staring 2018, Menya Foundation has helped rural villagers in their daily activities by publishing them on our blogs. We are agent of a social change. Menya Foundation has bloggers and journalists. One day 2018, when some of them were in the rural area looking for entrepreneurs informations to work on, they found a woman beaten to death by his women. The cause was that the woman man was asking for here lost money.
How the Village Savings and Loans started.
Testimony : “There are some years, my husband and I were in trouble every day. He didn’t want me to have my own money. If I had a visitor, I was called to begging for money from him. Starting when I came to know Menya Foundation, I joined one of their groups. We save and take loans. Nowadays, I no longer beg for money from my husband. I have bought two pigs and we have a good conversation “, Claudine.
Here at Menya Foundation, working with rural villagers is our task. Village Savings and Loans Associations has changed mentality of members. Only some men join the groups and this is a challenge. We are trying to mobilize them to join their women. This area is empty and we expect that our partnership will positively impact the community.
All our thanks to everyone who contributed to see this happen. Menya Foundation is ready to move together with Farmers Pride International FPI
By Menya Magazine
Troubles in trouble
There are some months ago, Canon Felix was calling for help. Holder of Facebook live sessions, he said that his telephone stopped him. The troubles began starting the day it was impossible to upload a picture. For sure, it was a matter for someone who has to post something on social networks.
The invaluable help
Canon Felix:” I bought this telephone in 2018. It was not new. For all what I have been publishing, I used it. At a given day, when I tried to upload a picture and video like before, the telephone powered off by itself. Once, twice, three times,… . I was unable to solve the problem, when a blessed mother helped me with a new battery. After some days off using it, the problem was back. Crying out again, the mother helped me again. The problem remained the same and I didn’t have another choice than to leave it. I stopped everything. When Michael’s friend was trying to looking for another telephone to give, I lost hope. I didn’t how this problem was to be solved.
The answer was near to me
When we have a problem to which we don’t expect a solution, we try to look far from us. A few of us look near to them. I was thinking about that ugly situation when a friend called me saying:” Don’t worry with the lack of a telephone. By tomorrow, I will put your troubles in trouble. What he did. Right now, I have a new telephone and I am ready to come back to what I was doing before the problem.
I have seen good people with good heart. You know how you helped me to jump this dare situation. All our thanks to you. We are moving to Community Development, especially in farming commercial and medical trees and developing the VSLA in microfinance. Here, the challenge to be challenged is “The lack of trained group leaders”
Your zeal is your strength
Here in Burundi, two main seasons are identified: rainy and sunny seasons. These two periods are very different and, in the rainy one, everything is simple because we don’t need to water our farms. In the sunny season, cultivating is decision we take by our own. It requires a lot of time.
Avoide two hundreds of every evening…
When the Printernet-Menya Magazine interviewed Eliane in order to know why she continues to work in a sunny season, she replied:” The sunny season is a period when crops don’t get enough water. As a mother with a family of children, I need vegetables to feed my family. Before, I took it easy and went to buy vegetables every evening. I was obliged to have two handreds every day. It was very difficult. Starting the day I do this, I don’t have problems with vegetables. I started this after we were empowered by the Menya Foundation staff. In a session about economy issues, I came to know that I wasted my time and decided to change. I water these vegetables every day. All this because Menya has come. I know that my zeal is my strength and I will not stop. With Menya, I am pretty sure that our lives must change”
The challenged challenge
Looking at how far is a river where we fetch water, everyone sees me as a mad woman. Really, it is a challenge but I must challenge it. In the future, we plan to cultivate commercial plants and to water them in a such season is a must. If we want to move, challenges are our ways of going forth. We can’t avoid them”.
For sure, this is positive impact of what we are doing in rural communities where you can find a empty land and, to get vegetables, they must buy them. Menya teach rural villagers to watch on every single thing.
If you want to reach out to us, fell free to drop your comment here.
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