“I’m 62 years old and I have 5 children. 
I am a widow since 10 years. When my husband died, I discovered I was HIV+. I am now a grandmother and all my children have left home. I live alone in a single room.
Before the micro financial program, I live a solitary life, I stayed in my room, and I continuously felt stressed and depressed. It was very, very difficult for me to think of work because I believed that what was left for me was only death. All of this aggravated my health, I had no more appetite, but also, in order to eat, I had to wait for my children to bring me something to eat because I did not produce anything.
The microfinance project came to me like a miracle from God, because I have a neighbour who helped me to work. We gathered our money and together we started a project selling coal. She had a capital of 150 000 FBU and I had 50 000 FBU given to me as credit: in total, we had a capital of 200 000 FBU.
Per month, we can gain a profit of approximately 80 000 FBU. I profit ¼ of it (20 000 FBU) and my neighbour, ¾ of the profit (60 000 FBU). Because of this I can say that thanks to the microfinance project my life has completely changed: today I have an occupation, I spend my day at the work site, I have friends at work who accompany me and encourage me day by day and I no longer feel depressed.”
“ I am 30 years old and I have 4 children. I discovered that I am HIV+ in 2010. I live in Kamenge with my 4 children in a rented house. My husband married another woman and no longer gives us any financial help.
Before the micro finance program, I did not work. To live I would beg to my neighbours or my husband. We would eat once a day, and sometimes we would have nothing to eat all day. I was always frustrated and my children would cry to me asking me something for food when I had nothing to give them. I always had quarrels with my landlord. I was very miserable.
Thanks to this program I have been able to work and sell food. Each month, I earn a profit of approximately 20 000 FBU, which
helps me get enough daily ration. Today, I am in peace because I know that I can work well on my own, and that I can profit of this money to cover the basic needs of my family. I no longer run behind my husband begging him for money.”
“When you are HIV+ you are an object stigmatised by society. They believe you cannot accomplish or do anything, and yet we have the ability to do as many things as HIV- people.
I was neglected and teased by society because everybody in my surroundings knew my serological status. They would point their figure at me, but I had the courage to start a project to make traditional Burundian drink thanks to the microfinance loans. People come to bye beer from me and become my friends. They no longer despise me because they’ve noticed that I too have something important to offer to society. For example, when they ask me for a loan I give it to them with no hesitation.
So I can say that I’m delighted of the program, because thanks to this program I am an individual- finally accepted by my community.”