Failing to get funds would insinuate a
dead end to many, but for Baraka it was
different. “One night I was thinking about
this project, and a word flashed in my
mind – ‘self-reliance’. So, I questioned
myself, ‘how can I use this word in our
project?” Astonished by the idea of
self-reliance, he shared with the rest of
the team and they changed their strategy.
Few days later, they reached an agreement
with the local government and started
campaigning their strategy throughout the
territory. “The strategy was simple. We
made it clear that we do not want to solve
their problem; we want them to solve their
problem,” says Baraka.
A committee comprising of Rutshuru
residents was formed. They were
responsible for collecting funds from the
public to build their own market.
CEFRADI gained public trust and more
people stepped forward to contribute.
More than 300 people were hired for
construction. “This was just the beginning
of our project and we had created more
than 300 jobs. Some of my friends who
refused to join CEFRADI were also
employed,” says a snickering Baraka. It
was a living proof on how creating jobs
could be as possible as everything else.
In February 2015, the project was
officially launched. Rutshuru residents
were surprised that they made
CEFRADI’s first project a success without
help from other developed territories. It
gave them high hopes and a lot of
inspiration. People got jobs and today it’s
business as usual. “We are one. I am from
Masisi, Eastern DRC, but that does not
mean I can’t help people in Rutshuru. If
you want to help someone you must not
ask him where he is from, just help. If he
is human, he is your relative,” says
Baraka.