Saving for a Safer Climate: Gicumbi Graduates Show Path to Resilient Living

A total of 632 community members, the majority of them women and youth, graduated today in Gicumbi District after completing an intensive financial literacy training under the Green Gicumbi Project—a flagship six-year initiative aimed at building climate resilience and socio-economic empowerment in rural Rwanda.

The graduation ceremony, held in the presence of high-level government officials, development partners, and community leaders, marked a key milestone in the project’s mission to enhance local livelihoods through capacity building. The training was delivered by FESY Organization in collaboration with Green Gicumbi Project, with the financial support of BK Foundation, in partnership with the Rwanda Green Fund.

For Florence Bihoyiki, a resident of Nyaruka Cell in Cyumba Sector, the transformation has been nothing short of life-changing.

“Before this training, I was disorganized with my business. I didn’t know how to manage money—I would get profit and consume it. Now, I am reinvesting it. I used to afford only 100 kilograms of sorghum, now I can buy 300 kilograms. I even managed to buy a smartphone, and I’ve learned to read,” she said proudly.

Francoix Ntawuguranayo from Rubaya Sector echoed a similar journey of empowerment. “Before, I feared financial institutions. Now, I’ve joined a SACCO, borrowed 100,000 RWF, bought hens, and my children now eat eggs. I’ve also started paying back the loan,” he said, adding that learning to read and write was a major personal breakthrough.

Real Impact on the Ground

Out of the 632 trained individuals, 58% were women, and 175 were youth. Together, they formed 17 savings groups, opened 467 new bank accounts, and launched 189 small businesses, ranging from poultry farming to food processing.

“This project completely changed my approach to money,” said Jean Marie Vianney Ngendabanga, a member of the Twitezimbere Savings Group in Muhamba. “I now not only save but invest. I’m grateful for the opportunity and encourage others to join.”

The financial literacy programme is part of a larger strategy by the Green Gicumbi Project to build adaptive capacity in rural communities affected by climate shocks. Previous interventions have included land terracing, climate-smart agriculture, and environmental restoration, reaching over 300,000 beneficiaries.

In her address, Teddy Mugabo, CEO of the Rwanda Green Fund, emphasized that financial education is a critical component of climate resilience.

“We must empower our rural communities to manage finances wisely to withstand climate-related shocks. I call on all partners and financial institutions to support such initiatives,” she urged.

Collaboration at the Core

The training initiative was born out of a public-private-philanthropic partnership, with each stakeholder contributing to a shared goal of economic empowerment.

Ingrid Karangwayire, Executive Secretary of the BK Foundation, noted, “When people are equipped with knowledge, they take initiative. They save, they invest, and they build strong communities. This programme proves that collaboration between government, civil society, and the private sector works.”

James Kellon Rwabwera, Executive Director of FESY, highlighted the importance of reaching underserved populations.

“We’re proud of this success, but we know we’ve only scratched the surface. Financial literacy is key not only for climate resilience but also for unlocking individual potential,” he said.

A Call to Sustain and Scale

Northern Province Governor Maurice Mugabowagahunde encouraged the graduates to apply their newfound knowledge for personal and community development.

“This training gives you the tools to build a better life. Let’s all use this knowledge to develop our region and our country,” he said.

As the Green Gicumbi Project nears its phase-out stage, today’s graduation served as a call to action for increased investment in financial literacy, particularly in rural communities where access to formal financial systems remains limited.

The event did not only celebrate the graduates’ achievements—it underscored the transformational power of financial education in fostering long-term resilience and economic inclusion in the face of climate change.