Meet Burundian Refugee Francoise: an empowered woman who contributes to a great change in society

Francoise is a 26 year-old woman weaving at the Women and Girls Opportunity Centre in Mahama camp. She fled the violence in Burundi alone with her three children in 2015. Her husband stayed behind in Burundi. After a terrible journey during when they were chased by rebel groups and had their belongings looted, they crossed the border for safety in Rwanda and arrived in Mahama camp.

In Burundi, Francoise was a farmer and she did not get the opportunity to go to school. Her mother was a needleworker and this how she got interested to learn on how to weave since she was a child. But it was challenging due to the poor weaving products material they were using.

Currently, Francoise lives with her husband Deo, who joined them in the camp seven months ago and their three children Nizigimana, Bon Fils and Clairia. All of their children are attending school in Mahama camp. Since her husband is jobless, he is the one taking care of them (cooking for the children and preparing them for school) when Francoise is at the centre weaving from Monday to Friday. They both complement each other in the home responsibilities.

Mahama refugee camp - Francoise weaving at the Women and Girls Opportunity Centre. ©UNHCR/Justin NGABONZIZA

Mahama refugee camp, Rwanda - Francoise, Deo and their three children live in Mahama refugee camp, a camp hosting more than 57, 000 Burundian refugees. ©UNHCR/Justin NGABONZIZA

Mahama refugee camp, Rwanda - Francoise, Deo and their three children live in Mahama refugee camp, a camp hosting more than 57, 000 Burundian refugees. ©UNHCR/Justin NGABONZIZA

26 year old Francoise has an amazing love story. When she fled from Burndi to Mahama camp with her three children she didn't know where her husband had gone. She knew he had tried to flee and had go tot Kigali but that's when the communication just stopped. Two years later she was walking through Mahama camp and she saw one of the buses arrive from the transit centre. The transit centre is where people come from before they reach the camp. To her complete surprise and delight her husband stepped off the bus . She was so so happy to see him and they have now been together for the last 7 months in the camp. Francoise enjoys working with the other women “Sometimes we solve each others problems by being together like this” Life is not always busy in the camp and can be boring and the co-operative fills her life and gives her hope for the future. The Burundian refugee women from Mahama Camp in Rwanda come together to produce crafts, baskets, bags, dresses, bedspreads and dishes. These beautifully traditional pieces are sold locally and also internationally via a project set up by UNHCR called MADE51. UNHCR’s partners Indego support the women by buying their artisan products and selling to the US market. Mahama camp hosts over 57,000 people who have all fled from Burundi in the last four years. ; UNHCR High profile supporter Gugu Mbatha-Raw visited Rwanda with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency

“I joined the centre and became a member of Akeza Karigura cooperative in 2016. We were trained on business and weaving handcrafts as well. It has improved my living standard because with the income I make from weaving, I can afford supplementary food or anything I want to buy to enhance the living of my family”, said Francoise. “The opportunity to be a member of the cooperative gives me the chances to build a brighter future for my family. Therefore I am encouraging other women to step ahead and look for prospects.”

Francoise has learnt how to produce crafts and baskets. She hopes that if she returns to Burundi, she will be a knitter and will teach other women the skills she acquired to improve livelihood opportunities for women.

Justin Ngabonziza contributed reporting from Mahama refugee camp, Rwanda