MUKAZA, August 13 (ABP) – “In the past, women and girls used to underestimate themselves and were afraid to engage in certain trades. But today they’ve progressed, especially thanks to lived experiences, and are now taking on small jobs to feed their families and ensure their development.” These are the words of Mrs. Pascasie Barampama, founding member of the Association of Women and Girls Without Trades, based in Mukaza, Bujumbura.
In an interview with ABP on Friday, August 8, 2025, Mrs. Barampama said the idea of creating this association came to her when she saw impoverished women and girls wandering the streets begging for money. Thanks to seminars she attended, she decided to bring them together to help them.
According to her, a woman who works within a group sees that she is not alone and learns a lot from her fellow members.
Mrs. Barampama further explained that instead of simply giving money to women and girls who were begging, she required them to develop small projects based on their interests. She would then give them a sum of either 50,000 or 100,000 Burundian francs (BIF) to launch their projects and become self-sufficient.
Still according to Mrs. Barampama, the goal of giving them money was to encourage them and test their honesty. Those who weren’t honest would disappear. For those who had the courage to return, she said she gave them even more money and then grouped them into associations.
Mrs. Barampama also shared that she initially started by bringing together 10 women and girls, located their homes, and provided them with startup capital. Afterwards, she invited five more women and girls to join so they could learn from the experience of the original group, especially based on how they worked.
According to her, the association initially operated in the outskirts of Bujumbura. After receiving grants, it expanded its activities to the interior of the country. Today, the association has branches in Rutana, Ruyigi, and Gitega.
She expressed great pride in these women who chose to work with their own hands instead of begging, and she called on other women not to underestimate small trades. According to her, it is often through these humble jobs that one can generate the income needed to start larger businesses.