Have A Cow

Meet Delphine

Delphine is 45 year old Genocide survivor in Boneza. She lost her parents and two brothers in the Genocide, surviving with her two sisters. Being the oldest in the family, Delphine had to take on the responsibility of raising her sisters. After the Genocide, she began working on their family farm and growing crops to feed her sisters. Delphine eventually married a local pastor in Boneza and had four children. Her primary responsibility today is leading the women’s church ministry.

“It’s not an easy job, especially working with women who have been widowed by the Genocide. We bring hope and the love of Jesus to these women,” Delphine explains. She is also in a women’s trust group in her village. About 30 women get together weekly with savings of $1 each, giving it out in loans to the group members so they can start small businesses.

When Delphine was selected to receive a cow from Arise Rwanda Ministries, she was overjoyed, crying and praising God for his love. “I know it’s the love of Jesus that my family and I received this cow. We will take care of the cow and be able to pass on the calf to another poor family.”

As a farmer, Delphine grows bananas, coffee, beans, maize and potatoes. “It’s extremely expensive to buy synthetic fertilizer for our farms. I couldn’t afford enough for my 500 coffee trees and other crops. However, with this gift of the cow, it will give me enough manure for my entire farm, provide milk to my children and I’ll be able to send them to school,” Delpine explained as she worked on her banana plantation. She says she is so thankful to Arise Rwanda for giving her a cow.