Helen Nirere
'Savings for Life' Member
Rwanda

Helen had only been married for a couple of years when her husband came down with a serious case of arthritis.  His pain was so great that he could barely walk and couldn’t work.  To support her family, Helen began working as a day laborer on local farms.  She lived from day to day and many nights her family went to bed hungry.  Thankfully, her husband’s brother gave the family a loan of 17,000 Rwanda francs ($30 USD) so she could start a small store selling basic food and household items. 

Helen then learned that World Relief was helping her church to start a savings group for women.  She quickly joined the group and was able to save 200 francs (35 US cents) per week.  When she had saved 50,000 francs, Helen was able to receive a loan from the members of 150,000 (265 USD) so she could add more items to her store and purchase a portable phone.  With the phone she was able to sell prepaid units to local cell phone users or charge customers who want to make a call.  Within five months Helen had fully repaid her loan! Today her store is profitable and Helen is a now able to provide food, medical insurance and school fees for her children. 

Now that Helen understands how savings pennies a day can add up, she plans to one day build her own home!