Mukashema, a senior 2 student told IGIHE that she has been saving since 2016 when she was in P6. She has now saved Rwf240,000.
“I found out that I used to spend a lot of money per day. So, I started saving. My mother would give me Rwf100 to buy myself a doughnut and kept it. Now, I have Rwf240,000,” she says.
Mukashema says that if she were to complete her ordinary level studies and lack means to continue, she would use her savings to pursue her advanced level studies.
She says that at times she grows crops for sale and saves the earnings.
She also belongs to a local dancing troupe from which she earns and saves. Mukashema’s mother Marie Rose Nyiransengimana says that apart from the savings, her daughter also rears two billy goats and three rabbits worth Rwf50,000 also bought with her savings.
“When I give her Rwf100 to buy a doughnut, she keeps it on her account. Thanks to her savings, she can now buy her own shoes and clothes on her own,” she says.
In 2016, the school located in Gihango Sector started encouraging students to save money in groups in a bid to reduce the number of students who drop out of school owing to lack of basic materials.
They formed groups in the “Mfite Icyerekezo” initiative, loosely translated into English as “I have a vision.”
The teacher in charge of this initiative Marie France Usanase told IGIHE that they have different ways of saving. For instance, she noted a student may bring Rwf5000 per week.
“If you count from last year, for instance, you’ll find out that a student who saved Rwf5000 per week would have saved Rwf500, 000.” She said.
However, she noted that at times the students may have problems and decide to withdraw the money or buy domestic animals.
The school has 12 saving groups for ordinary level students, one comprised of between 25 and 30 members.
Groupe Scolaire Congo Nil Headteacher Priest Paul Maniragaba reveals to IGIHE that since this initiative was created, students have not been dropping out of school.
He adds that even when a student does not have the money to buy something they need, teachers may lend them some money and pay back later.
The school authority posits that this initiative may be a sustainable solution to children that abandon school and serve as an example to other schools.
The school counts 25 students including 16 who dropped out of school in 2017 while this year, 4 other students dropped out while 12 among those who had dropped out last year returned thanks to the savings initiative.
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