Olive, a young woman from Muti Cell in Huye District, faced a painful turning point in her life when she had to drop out of school due to an unplanned pregnancy. Overwhelmed by shame and a deep sense of disappointment, both in herself and in the eyes of her parents, she lost her self-worth and struggled to find a way forward.
Her prayers for a second chance were answered in early 2024, when BRAC staff invited her to join the Muti AIM Club. Through this young women’s empowerment group, Olive began to rebuild her confidence. She developed a business plan for selling textured soy protein (TSP) and received social and economic support. A 207,000 RWF cash grant from BRAC helped her scale up her operations, increasing her daily sales from just 5,000 RWF and providing her with a reliable source of income.
After successfully completing the AIM program, Olive transitioned into BRAC’s Microfinance (MF) program in January 2025. With regular savings from her growing TSP business, she took out a 100,000 RWF loan in June to purchase processing equipment, aiming to raise her daily sales to 20,000 RWF.
Today, Olive’s life has taken a remarkable turn. She has regained her self-worth, bought two piglets, contributes meaningfully to her household, and independently supports her child. Through BRAC’s support, Olive feels empowered and hopeful—grateful for the opportunity to rewrite her story and put her life back on track.
"Today, my life has truly changed because of the AIM programme. I have discovered my self-worth, started my own business, and now sit confidently as an equal in our BRAC microfinance group. I no longer depend on anyone, I contribute to my family with pride and care for my child on my own. I finally feel empowered and in control of my future."