Growing Love, Growing Futures: Three Couples Transforming Their Families

Jean de Dieu and Riberi are married and have two children. Gift, three, and three-month-old Keza.

The family was living in extreme poverty in Rwanda and took part in Concern’s Green Graduation programme.

Jean de Dieu told us what life was like before the programme:

“Life was not easy. We only ate once a day. But now, we eat three meals daily. Now, things are going well. Before this project, we didn't have a plot on which to grow beans. Finding food was not easy. Getting money was hard because I only earned 1,000RwF each day to buy food for my family. When my wife was pregnant with our first child, it was not easy. I felt the responsibility as a man to work hard.”

When Jean de Dieu took part in the Green Graduation programme he received funds and support with how to use them. He learnt how to plant vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, onions and cabbages.

When he received funds, he bought two plots of land to cultivate rice and then expanded to more land and planting a forest.  

Jean de Dieu discussed the business with his wife, Riberi, saying:

Speaking of his plans for the future, Jean de Dieu said: “In my family, I don't know anyone who completed university. That's why I want to focus on growing the forest instead of rice. My wife and I say that if our child stays in school long enough to proceed to university, the forest will have grown and we can sell it and have money to help the child continue studying. That's my dream. I want to be a good example to my family. I went to school until primary six. But my wife completed secondary school. She wants to proceed to university. That’s always at the back of her mind.”

Godrey and Agness live in Malawi with their children. They were struggling financially before they participated in a Concern programme and faced many challenges but they are now thriving.

Concern supported the couple with money as well as business lessons and the family were able to set up a successful farming business.

Agness said:

Godfrey added: “We provide the children with notebooks, clothes and other needs. Our children no longer struggle to find things. Everything for us goes well.”

Sarah and Eric have been together for 16 years and have three children. Jarius, 16, Teddy, 12, and Gloria, 4. After taking part in gender equality sessions, the couple say their relationship has grown stronger, with shared decision-making bringing more balance and understanding at home. 

Speaking outside their house as their children played nearby, Eric and Sarah reflected on feeling more aligned, financially comfortable, and at peace as a family. As smallholder farmers they say their children are thriving, including their eldest, who topped his class last year, and they shared simple, heartfelt advice on what makes a marriage work.