Waymaker Wednesday: Micheline

Women are not respected yet here. They don’t value us. For women to be valued, we will need support.

I used to face so many difficulties with paying the technical fees to the school. My kids couldn’t go to school because they just tell them to come back home. “If you don’t bring the fee, don’t come back until you have it.”

Sometimes we used to starve. We didn’t even have sugar to take tea. We just slept like that and would eat tomorrow.

This is the first time I’ve seen a bank coming to look for people like me. I’m only on the first cycle but I’ve been able to purchase seeds, vitamins for the soil, and fertilizer. My kids are not lacking food anymore. We can buy flour for ugali, and the rice and vegetables we can get here on the farm. It has improved our life.

I feel great. Now, I feel empowered. I’m already at peace. I know that I have a ways to go. I’m not yet there but I will reach there.

Narration by Micheline, an Opportunity International client in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

This video is a selection from Opportunity International's Virtual Art Gallery: Portrait of a Waymaker. Explore the entire gallery here.