Page 79 - BUREKA PHOTOBOOK

The BUREKA project improves beneficiaries’ living

conditions through agricultural assistance and VSLA.

Mrs. NGALULA TSHIBULA, 60, is a on her next plan of action one eve- proved her household’s financial

widower who lives with her four ning when she heard on the local situation despite her involvement

grandchildren, two grandsons radio station that people had be- in all sectors. She went on to say

Mutoto Wele, 5 years, and Muta- gun to return to their homes and that before the VSLA, she had no

ta Welo, 13 years, and two grand- that the army had tightened secu- efficient way to save money, but

daughters Ngalula Muya, 9 years, rity. This was the good news she since joining the group, she has

and Antho Kapinga, 7 years. In the had been waiting for, and without been saving at least 2000FC week-

small village of Mukuanjanga, she further thought, she decided to re- ly, which has enabled her to access

is a subsistence farmer who also turn to her village and start over credit, which she has used to open

engages in petty commerce. since she had lost everything. her small business in the village.

She went on to say that the busi-

She was identified as a beneficia- “Everything was to start over in ness has not only helped her im-

ry in the BUREKA project and has a disserted village; no one wanted prove her financial situation, but

received assistance. to return due to the horrific scenes it has also helped her improve her

Mrs. Ngalula became a member that had left the majority of people household feeding needs because

of a local VSLA group after being traumatized.” she now has money to buy items

sensitized by the ADRA field team. Life was also more difficult than she cannot produce.

She discovered that joining the before because there was no food

group will help her gain access and no one was doing business,” Furthermore, opening the busi-

to savings and credit. Mr. Ngalu- Ngalula explained. This situation ness in the village has benefited

la recalls the heinous incidents of hampered people’s return, and it the entire community because

the war that left her a widower af- took several months before they she has made items available and

ter his husband was assassinated began to settle in the village. Be- people do not have to travel as

in cold blood while attempting to cause of this intolerable situation, far as Tshikapa to obtain them.

evacuate the family to a safer lo- ADRA/USAID implemented a proj- “I’d like to thank ADRA/USAID for

cation. “When my husband died, I ect in her village with the goal of the assistance they’ve provided to

had no choice but to travel to Kin- accelerating livelihood restoration the community.”

shasa and seek refuge in one of my among the affected population in

relative homes,” she explained. Mukuanjanga’s health area. Bene- Without you, there would have

ficiaries of ADRA/USAID assistance been no community impact. “I

Ngalula went on to say that life have begun to improve their live- want to thank you again on behalf

was difficult in Kinshasa, and that lihoods by participating in activ- of all the beneficiaries who ben-

she lived from hand to mouth be- ities. Mrs. Ngalula received food efited from your assistance,” Mr.

cause she did not have a source of assistance, WASH services, and Ngalula concluded.

income. Ngalula was meditating VSLA. VSLA, she claims, has im-

Building Recovery For Kasai (BUREKA) - 79