At just 22, Henriette Mukanoheri's world seemed to crumble around her. She was a junior in high school with dreams of a more prosperous life, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced her to stop her education. She returned home during the school closure, only to find herself facing many problems caused by her fathers polygamy. To help the family, she took up sewing, and tried her best to make do with the little resources and opportunities she could find.

She received the news of schools opening up after the pandemic with indifference: for her, the return to school was impossible. By then, she was pregnant and struggling to keep up with expenses. Her pregnancy out of wedlock didn’t sit well with the family: both her mother and her sister distanced themselves from Henriette, leaving her to fend for herself.

In search of a fresh start, Henriette ventured to Kigali from her native Rusizi. The reality that greeted her was far from the sanctuary she had envisioned: alone, jobless, and without any support, she faced the daunting task of navigating life with her child in a new city.

Henriette's fortunes began to change with the PEPFAR-funded DREAMS program that is designed to take in vulnerable young women and provide them with comprehensive services, including HIV prevention and reproductive health education services, training and economic empowerment support. Determined to find a way to provide for herself and her child, Henriette embraced this opportunity. She attended the training sessions and joined the group meetings in safe spaces. She met other girls and young women in situations like hers, and they encouraged each other as they learned about sexual and reproductive health, staying safe from HIV/AIDS, using positive parenting to raise their children, and starting small businesses to generate a steady stream of income.

2023 marked a turning point for Henriette. Thanks to the US $70 (RWF 70,000) she received from USAID thanks to this project, Henriette was able to invest in growing her small eggplant production business.

With this initial investment, Henriette was able to make US $120 (RWF 120,000) and become an active participant in the savings and lending group in her community. These small community-run groups pool their resources and enable members, most of them women, to take out loans that help them take their small businesses to the next level.

Henriette’s success in growing and selling eggplant enabled her to renew her land lease until January 2025. With increased production, she hopes to transition from small to large-scale farming.

Henriette's journey is a testament to the power of resilience and determination of a young woman who refuses to allow the harsh life circumstances defeat her.

The Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe (DREAMS) program provides exactly what young women like Henriette need: education, training, resources and support. DREAMS gave Henriette the means to advance in agriculture, all while removing barriers that could hinder her progress.

Henriette’s story is not just one of personal triumph but a reminder of how with determination, support, and a bit of hope, one can navigate the storms of life and emerge stronger on the other side.