For Uwizeye Esther, a young woman from Rwanda’s Gicumbi District, poultry farming is more than just a livelihood—it’s a source of stability, purpose, and impact in her community.
Like many of her peers, Esther once spent her days doing household chores, with no stable source of income. That changed when she came across an announcement from Kilimo Trust offering youth training opportunities through the R-YES project. One course in particular stood out: poultry farming.
“I chose poultry farming. After completing my training in Gishari, I didn’t wait—I immediately started applying what I learned,” says Esther.
Armed with hands-on knowledge in feeding, disease management, and feed formulation, Esther didn’t just raise chickens—she built a business. Unlike many who dive into poultry farming without technical know-how, Esther had an edge.
“I treat my chickens myself. I don’t face challenges because I know what I’m doing,” she adds with confidence.
Her expertise quickly gained recognition. Today, Esther is the go-to poultry expert in her community. Neighbors seek her advice on diagnosing sick birds, writing business plans, measuring chicken coops, sourcing healthy chicks, and finding the right medicines.
Her growing credibility has translated into trust—especially from her savings group. Where once they were hesitant to lend her even 100,000 RWF (around $70), they now confidently provide loans of up to 500,000 RWF ($350), reassured by the visible success of her enterprise.
“I take my eggs to the market and repay my loans with no problem. They trust me now because they can see my business is real.”
With support from Kilimo Trust, Esther is now scaling up. She is constructing a large chicken coop that will house between 700 to 1,000 egg-laying hens—more than ten times her original flock.
“Before, I couldn’t meet the demand for eggs. But now, with this bigger coop, I’ll be able to serve more customers and expand my market.”
Esther’s transformation—from a young woman with no income to a confident farmer, mentor, and entrepreneur—is proof of what’s possible when rural youth are given the right tools and support.
Her message to others is powerful and clear:
“When you believe in your project and take action, people will believe in you too.”