Elise is a widow in Burundi who was able to rebuild her life and support her family with the help of a Five Talents savings group program following the death of her husband. Read her powerful story of resilience in her own words below.

I lost my husband, and it was a very difficult time trying to provide for my family as a widow.

I joined the literacy program and earned a certificate signed by the church. I was so proud to be able to read my own diploma!

After that, I joined the savings group. I was part of the very first savings group in our area, and our group even helped train the 17 other groups in our community. Our members came from different backgrounds—some wealthier, some with less—so we started by saving 500 francs ($0.17 USD) per week so everyone could participate.

I have a business selling clothes and shoes. Because of the savings group, I’ve been able to provide for my children, pay for their education, and even hire a househelp to care for them while I work.

Now, we each save 5,000 francs ($1.68) per week, which is the weekly limit. I'm a member of three different savings groups, so I’m able to save 15,000 ($5.03) per week in total. When I apply for a loan, I’m eligible for larger amounts, which helps me grow my business.

Thanks to this program, my family is living well. I’ve sent all my children to school, and my youngest is now in university. I’ve also encouraged others in my community to follow our example, and many of them have done the same.

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