Members of the Abakorerabushake Cooperative, a group of marginalized people in Gitarama Village, Nyamabuye Sector, Muhanga District, are pleading for help after their livelihoods were devastated by climate change.
Heavy rains destroyed their workspace, leaving them unable to produce clay stoves, which were their primary source of income.
Germain Dusabamahoro, one of the cooperative members, shared how the disaster has left them struggling.
“The rains destroyed our workshop, and now we have no place to make the stoves. We’ve been living in hardship ever since,” he said.
Marie Chantal Mukashyaka echoed these concerns, describing the difficult conditions they now face. “Before the disaster, we were doing well. We had a stable workplace. But now, we lack food, and our children can’t go to school because we can’t afford supplies. Life has become unbearable.”
Esther Ntawuguranayo, another affected member, explained how the situation went from bad to worse. “Our living standards have dropped significantly due to these changes. We just want to rebuild our lives.”
The cooperative members are now calling on authorities to assist them in getting back on their feet. “We ask for help from the leaders to restore our livelihoods,” they urged.
Responding to the concerns, Alexia Nyirangendahimana, the Nyamabuye Sector official in charge of cooperatives, acknowledged the issue.
“We are advocating for them and will guide them on how to use any support they receive wisely. If support is not available immediately, they should continue working toward self-improvement.”
Muhanga District Vice Mayor in Charge of Economic Development, Eric Bizimana, advised the cooperative to ensure they have the necessary documents to receive assistance. “The leaders of the cooperative must first obtain proper documentation so that we can work with them and support their development efforts.”
The Abakorerabushake Cooperative, which once had over 100 members and half a million Rwandan Francs in savings, was thriving until 2022 when climate change-induced storms destroyed their workshop and equipment. Today, the cooperative is struggling to recover from this setback.
