Landrada: From Isolation to Interdependence
Landrada Twibanire is 40 years old. She lives with her husband and 4 children in the Mburabuturo Cell, Rwanda, and works as a farmer. Her story shows how support can inspire independence and leadership.
Landrada was once the “kind of person that stayed home in isolation.” She felt she was ”always dependent on others” and lacked the confidence and knowledge to earn money. However, after connecting with the Kungahara Project, she affirms that she is “self-aware unlike before” and feels empowered to make changes in her family and community.
Through the Kungahara Project, Landrada connected with other women to engage in trainings around sustainable farming and leadership. Landrada and her peers learned advanced agricultural methods that have helped them preserve the environment. “To combat soil erosion,” Landrada says, “we use fertilizers, which helps the soil to retain the water. This prevents the soil from being washed away and preserved its fertility.” They have learned techniques to cultivate better crops and maximize the land, and “as a result, we achieve abundant and high-quality harvests.”
This abundance has allowed Landrada and her peers to sell their produce on the local market, generating profit. This has allowed Landrada to gain independence. She takes pride in how she has invested her profits into her family. “There are things in my home that I never had before,” she says, “and this reflects the positive changes in my daily life.” She is especially proud that she can ensure her children’s wellness: “they have enough to drink and are free from malnutrition.”
In addition to improving the conditions of her own family life, Landrada has become empowered to make change in her broader community. She is part of a decision-making committee for her village and cell, and she oversees land matters and acts as a counsellor for agricultural development. She sees herself as a leader who can listen to people’s problems, help solve them and share advice when needed. “My confidence has grown and I’m a woman with freedom to express myself. I am confident to speak my mind and stand by words without fear.”
Landrada’s drive towards leadership reflects her belief in collaboration and shared growth. The Kungahara Project helped foster an interdependent community of participants. “The cooperation between women helped me to fight against climate change,” Landrada says. Group discussions and shared ideas have allowed the women to effectively fight against soil erosion, protecting their garden. Additionally, when the women received nurseries from the Kungahara Project, they distributed trees to community members, reflecting their commitment to shared success. “Because of the skills and knowledge I have gained, I am confident that the activities I lead will continue to help others when I’m not around.”
Her experiences with being part of a collective and gaining leadership experiences have helped bring Landrada from a life of isolation to one of interconnectedness. “To me, cooperation means that even when you feel alone, working with others makes you feel connected,” she reflects. “This project has taught us how to live in harmony with others.”
Landrada has begun to see herself as capable and self-driven: “Now I am self-aware and confident in my life… I can face challenges and achieve great things with courage.” However, as an engaged community member, she recognizes how many other women are still where she once was: dependent and isolated. These conditions can be much more harmful when women are in abusive environments. In her eyes, sustained support would help reach more women who are facing abuse. “If ActionAid continues, we will gain more knowledge and we women will learn to make decisions in our household,” becoming empowered to advocate for themselves both in their community and personal lives.
“For me, the meaning of a good life is to have security, a life free from abuse, with enough food at home to feed my family, money for our needs, and a safe and peaceful home,” Landrada shares. Continued support could help sustain the impacts already made while expanding their reach, allowing more women to achieve Landrada’s view of the good life.
