Aline’s very real challenges

Growing up in Rukira, Rwanda, Aline was taught that getting pregnant before getting married meant the end of opportunity: She’d never have a life free from poverty.

“Dreams for My Daughter” shares the real-life story of HOPE savings group member Aline Mushimiyimana (pictured above with her daughter, Queen). Once you've watched Aline's story, go behind the scenes with the film's creators.

And based solely on geography, the odds of escaping poverty aren't in her favor. Of the 28 least-developed countries in the world, 27 are in sub-Saharan Africa, where 41% of the population lives in poverty.^* People in the region face some of the highest obstacles globally to accessing financial services, education, and employment. And if you’re a woman, the obstacles are even higher.^**

Realizing she was expecting and would raise her daughter—lovingly named Queen—without a father’s support, Aline feared a life of scarcity, struggle, and much smaller dreams. “I felt lonely, and it was a sad life with no hope.”

You can help equip men and women like Aline with the tools they need to beat the odds.

Ibyiringiro savings group
Rwanda

Give to empower savings groups in sub-Saharan Africa

4 in 10 people in sub-Saharan Africa live in poverty—and in the aftermath of the pandemic, that’s only expected to rise. Join HOPE International as we equip savings groups in this region with the tools they need to defy the odds and hold on to their dreams.

Ibyiringiro savings group
Rwanda

Why savings groups?

Aline had the God-given talents and skills to provide for herself and Queen. What she didn’t have was a way to invest in her potential—financial services to help her continue her education, save for the future, or start a business. And when Aline looked around, she saw that she wasn’t alone.

Finding community. When Aline invited 15 other young single mothers to join her, they offered mutual support amid cultural stigma. Aline says, “Everyone got to share her own life story, and it helped us to hear those.” The women named their fledgling group Ibyiringiro, which means “hope.”

Christ at the center. Aline and her fellow group members start each one of their meetings by praying and worshipping together. “We read the Bible and encourage one another. ... It made us know that God is powerful and able,” Aline says.

A safe place to save. At each meeting, every member of Ibyiringiro contributes 150 Rwandan francs (about 15 cents). Week by week, their pooled savings grow, eventually adding up to enough for members to take loans.

Investing in potential. “I used to ask for everything I needed from my parents,” Aline remembers. Now, she provides for herself and Queen. Using her first loan of 2,000 francs (about $2 U.S.) to buy avocados to sell along the road, Aline leveraged subsequent loans to purchase a pig, purchase health insurance, and open a small shop.

Strength for today, bright hope for tomorrow. “I used to be scared to stand before people,” Aline recalls, “but now, I stand still fearlessly, sharing God’s Word.” And when she looks at Queen, she’s filled with dreams: “The hope I have for her is that, in the right time, she could get a good education and study well, and have everything she needs.”

By giving now, you can empower more savings group members in sub-Saharan Africa to hold on to their dreams and create a new future for their families.

COVID-19: A new threat to Aline’s future

Aline Mushimiyimana
Rwanda

For the first few months of the pandemic, Ibyiringiro’s savings provided a financial safety net that Aline and her friends desperately needed to purchase food and keep up with insurance payments. Members also offered one another support—farming together, sharing clothes and food, and praying for one another.

But the wave of economic crisis eventually overtook them. “We went bankrupt as a group in general,” reports Aline, who had to close her snack shop business due to lockdowns.

Still, even against increasingly daunting odds, Aline says the group remains committed: “We decided to keep going. No matter how slow we could be, we needed to keep moving forward. Constant prayer for strength enabled [us] to avoid despair.”

The pandemic is already throwing millions more people into poverty. And while Aline might feel like she's starting over, she isn’t giving up—and neither are we.

As the virus’ threat diminishes, lockdowns lift, and businesses reopen, we want to be there for Aline. And we want to reach more men and women, equipping them through savings groups to weather crises like the pandemic, provide for their families, and hold on to their dreams.

“I believe I will rise again.”
Aline Mushimiyimana

*“Understanding Poverty in Africa,” The Brookings Institution
**“Leave No One Behind” (pdf), United Nations

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At HOPE International, we invest in the dreams of families in the world's underserved communities as we proclaim and live the Gospel.

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Resources: If you're part of a church, nonprofit, or school and would like to learn more about HOPE's methodology, visit our resource library. If you're part of a church network or organization and would like to learn more about implementing HOPE's savings group (SG) methodology, visit our SG Multiply page.

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