Now he is running for local leader
He felt like nobody. Malachie Siboniyo always thought that he was not the same as other men in his community in Cibitoke, Burundi. He was born with a physical disability in his legs. Not respected within the community and unable to live the same life as other village members. Until he took part in the PIP (Integrated Agricultural Planning) through the We are Able! programme. It changed his life.
In Burundi, persons with a disability are often called ‘ikimuga’. This word refers not to a person, but to a ‘thing’. Something that is broken. Malachie also felt that his disability prevented him from living a life like others in his community and he had very low self-esteem. He spent most of his income from crops on drinking alcohol without investing in the well-being of his family. Now his live has changed completely.
Running for local leader
After Malachie took the PIP training through We are Able! programme his self-esteem increased tremendously. During the training he learned how to make a plan for the household’s activities, income and expenditures, involving all household members. Now Malachie has a clear vision in mind of what he wants to achieve within three years and what he wants to do to increase his family income. He is even running for local leader of his village and he is a vice-president of a farmers’ cooperative. That is a group of farmers who come together to share knowledge and provide loans. Now, for the first time in his life, Malachie is experiencing what it is like to be fully part of his community.
Livelihood security
Malachie decided that he wants to buy another plot of land with the money he earned to be closer to the main road. Malachie lives in a rural area in Burundi which makes transportation very difficult. This could make it easier for him to sell crops and maybe even open a bar to sell drinks. Also, one of Malachie’s daughters who mainly did household chores took a training and now contributes to the family’s income by sewing clothes.
