A precarious life, then the choice of microcredit
Nirema lives on Rugeregere Hill, in the province of Cibitoke (Burundi). He is one of the young men who chose to join a community microcredit group , Dufashanye, supported by AMU with the project Si può fare! and by the local partner CASOBU.
Before starting this adventure, Nirema had an unstable life: “Without a steady job, I ran in all directions to earn a living. I basically lived day by day, without any plans.”
How Nirema Met Community Microcredit
The man had the opportunity to attend one of the awareness initiatives organized by AMU and CASOBU on Rugeregere Hill. On this occasion he learned that community microcredit groups would be created in his land.
He says: “I was interested, so I signed up. It wasn’t a good time for me and my family: I had just finished secondary school, while my wife had had to interrupt her university studies due to financial problems and she didn’t have a job.”
It all started with a small capital
Nirema enters the fourth group created on his hill. After the first three months of saving, he asks for a loan of 150,000 Burundian francs (BIF) . An amount that corresponds more or less to 49 euros.
With this sum the man starts a business by choosing what was his passion, butchery: “I opened a small meat business: I bought and resold at retail. I started with 10kg of meat. It was a great adventure. I got more and more customers and ended up selling 20 kg of meat a day. The more I practiced this activity, the more ideas came naturally. So I also added the barbecue service”.
Nirema’s business expands, despite a setback
After the butcher shop, it’s time for catering. Nirema has the right determination to face this new entrepreneurial adventure. 
However, a nasty theft creates an unexpected stop : “All the cooking material I used for the barbecue was stolen. This weakened me for 3 weeks, then I reopened. In the restaurant, the menu includes rice, bananas, pasta. My specialty is cassava leaves prepared with meat on the bone. This dish is very popular in the area.”
New family prospects thanks to microcredit
The expansion of the business has allowed Nirema to earn a good profit. The savings and then the credit obtained from the group and well invested has improved his family life. The greatest satisfaction? ” My wife has resumed her university studies, soon she will discuss her thesis and obtain her diploma”.
Nirema’s wife is a smart woman and like her husband she did not miss the opportunity to join a community microcredit group: in fact, she now runs a small business selling bananas, mangoes and charcoal, which allows her to have her own source of income.
As for Nirema, his entrepreneurial initiative is a river in full flood : “In addition to everything else, I have rented land to grow corn, beans and rice. All this brings a significant benefit to our family. But I also want to resume my studies and go to university: I will work during the day and study in the evening. The future is no longer a source of concern for me: I have solid foundations to face it .”
