Leodomile is a young adult and a proud businessman who has worked hard and overcome many challenges for his success. As a young teenager in Rwanda, Leodomile became the sole provider for his three siblings, the youngest only one year old. To survive, he worked on difficult construction jobs for little pay. At times, when his brothers and sister were so hungry they cried, he took food from neighboring farms. When he was caught, he endured many beatings from angry farm owners. For three long years they struggled this way. Then, Leodomile says, “I found Zoe Empowers and my life changed.”
After learning about business management, Zoe Empowers provided him a micro-grant to sell avocados and tomatoes in his village. Once his business showed a profit, he began saving part of his income. Soon, he invested in a goat to breed, bought clothes for his family, paid the fees for his siblings to return to school, and bought a bicycle. After a few months, he started a second business buying green bananas from local farmers, ripening them, and selling them for a nice profit.
Through Zoe Empowers, Leodomile also created a long-term plan to become a welder. He knows that the government has plans to develop his community in Rwanda, and wants to be ready to work on the new construction. Each day, on his way to vocational school, he straps a big bunch of ripe bananas to his bicycle. Before and after class, he sells his bananas, and comes home each day with profits and more job skills.
“I give thanks to Zoe Empowers and to God because I went from a critical situation—abused and hungry—to a good situation. Now I am very clean. Now I eat three meals a day. Now the community respects me and I am no longer ashamed,” he reflects.