Women’s empowerment in Gitega : trades as a springboard to dignity

SOS Médias Burundi

Gitega, May 21, 2025 – The Integrated Women’s Development Center in Gitega district stands out today as a true lever of empowerment for women in vulnerable situations. Thanks to apprenticeships in artisanal trades, dozens of women, once unemployed and marginalized, are regaining dignity, autonomy, and hope.

Among them, Sylvane Matore, 38 years.old, a mother of two, shares a moving story. Born with a disability—without fingers or toes—she lived in despair for a long time. “All my brothers and sisters have started their own families. I was unable to provide for my most basic needs, like clothes or shoes. When I was married, I faced poverty : difficulty feeding my children, paying the rent, or paying for healthcare. That’s what drove me to learn sewing.”

Francine Nsengiyumva, also 38 years old, and a mother of five, shares an equally poignant story. Divorced and destitute, she spent her days doing nothing. “I was at risk of falling into bad habits. I had lost hope until I decided to learn sewing.”

Works of art produced by women gathered at the Integrated Development Center for Women in the district of Gitega (SOS Médias Burundi)

Éméline Nibitanga, 30 years old, a graduate in general humanities, saw her professional ambitions hampered by unemployment. “When I couldn’t find a job, I chose to learn knitting. My husband couldn’t cover all the expenses. Today, I can contribute to my family’s needs.”

These women are among the 826 beneficiaries, grouped into 23 cooperatives, who have been trained at the Center in sewing, basketry, knitting, jewelry making, weaving, shoemaking, and pottery, according to Ms. Anne Marie Ndayisaba, Director of the Center. This initiative was born out of an alarming reality : the increasing number of destitute women seeking assistance.

“We noticed that many women were knocking on our doors without a sustainable solution. Training these women in manual trades gives them real purchasing power and independence,” says Ms. Ndayisaba.

In the heart of the city of Gitega (the political capital), this initiative marks a significant turning point in the emancipation of women in precarious situations. Through learning trades, a path to dignity, resilience, and social transformation opens up before them.

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Women supported and equipped by the Integrated Development Center for Women in the district of Gitega (SOS Médias Burundi)