Uwimbabazi got pregnant when she was a teenager. At the time, she was living with only her mother as her father had passed on. Her mother started mistreating her, abusing her verbally and even depriving her of food.
When Alphonsine got married to the love of her life, what transpired after was something she never expected.
Mediatrice Gahongayire believes every smile has a story. As a rebellious teenager, Gahongayire had conflicts with her parents, she resented school and eventually dropped out- something that affected her already strenuous relationship with her family.
Innocent Nsegiyumva and Agnes Manirakiza lived together for twelve years and had three children. Though they were not legally married, they co-owned land. Nsegiyumva however, deprived his partner the right to share control over the harvest.
“Being abused and beaten by my husband had become part of my life as a married woman, until I found Haguruka, where I got the support that I needed to escape that terrible situation.” – Donatille.
Liberee and Deogratias have been married for 35 years and have six children together. For most of their marriage, the husband was the only one making decisions over the family’s property including selling it and using the money for his own needs instead of the family’s.
After over twenty years of marriage, Ziripa thought the hard years were now behind them as a couple. She never imagined herself being in a situation she found herself into when her husband left her for another woman.
Nyiraneza, a mother-of-one and resident of Nyamasheke District, found herself in a complicated situation.
Nyiranzirorera and her husband have been married for 30 years. Majority of those years however were filled with so much pain, she narrates.
Fanny Nyirarukundo, a resident of Kayonza district was married to Venuste Masumbuko. Their marriage was like that of most couples; have kids, build a home and a future together.