Bijou in Rumonge diocese in Burundi tells how, through learning literacy, she was able to bless her children with an education and join together with a group of women in her community to multiply that blessing. Read her story below in her own words.

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Before starting this program, I couldn’t read. There were no cell phones when my husband and I were dating, so he would write me letters and I would have to ask someone else to read his letters and write mine for me.

After we got married and had our first two children, I was invited to join a Five Talents Savings Group by the facilitator, Caritas. I asked my husband, and he at first refused, but then I insisted and was able to join the program, where I learned to read and write. When it was time to test for accreditation, I was nervous, but I passed the exam and got my certificate. I was very happy.  My husband and I have five children now, and because the program taught us the importance of literacy, we have put all of them in school.  The oldest has even completed school. After earning my literacy accreditation, I joined a Savings Group, and this helped to fund the school fees.  Now I have a business selling palm oil.

In my community, we have started a group of women who are builders — and it is due to learning literacy in this program that I could become a member of the women builders association. I now know how to measure the house, and even how to build the roof. I participated in building a local administrative office, and I even helped with the building of my church. As a group of women builders, we now empower other women too, including by building a house for a widow who has three children. It feels so good to be able to use the skills I have now to bless my own family and other families too.