"Before I joined Plant With Purpose Burundi, life felt like I was trying to carry water in a broken jar,” says Vyizigiro, a farmer and father of four living in Rutana Province. "I was always trying to get ahead, to save just enough to start a small business. But every time I tried, the money slipped through my fingers. I wasn’t saving properly, and what little I had was spent on things that didn’t help us grow.”
Vyizigiro is 40 years old, married, and raising two boys and two girls, ages 7 to 16. Like many in his community, his family depends on agriculture and livestock to make a living. But before he joined his Purpose Group with Plant With Purpose, even putting together a modest sum for investment was a struggle.
"I couldn’t find enough capital in one place,” he explains. “And when I did manage to save a little, it wasn’t used to improve our situation. I was stuck in a cycle of trying and failing—hoping, but never reaching.”
This cycle—poverty driven by climate pressure, poor soil, and lack of access to financial tools—is a cruel one. Environmental degradation forces farmers to work harder for less. And without savings or sustainable practices, their struggle deepens. The despair can feel endless. But thanks to the generosity of Plant With Purpose’s supporters, families like Vyizigiro’s are now writing a different story.
"Joining the Purpose Group was a turning point. I began learning the methodology—how to save, how to plan, and how to grow,” Vyizigiro says. "That’s when my mindset shifted. I started to see possibilities instead of limitations.”
He focused on what he knew: agriculture. With new knowledge and access to small, manageable loans through his Purpose Group, he began investing in livestock, specifically goats and pigs.
"These animals were more than just assets,” he smiles. “They gave us organic manure, and that transformed our soil.”
Vyizigiro took full advantage of the training provided by Plant With Purpose. He learned how to build contour canals to reduce erosion, how to mulch and compost effectively, and how to use organic manure to restore his land.
"The result was incredible. My harvest doubled compared to before. We could now eat better meals and sell a portion of our crops at the market. That income helped with things like school fees and household needs.”
It was a breakthrough. No longer just surviving, Vyizigiro began to build a foundation of stability and growth. He set his sights on onions.
"After learning from the Farmer Field School, I tried growing onions on a small plot. The first harvest was amazing. I decided to scale up and expand to meet the market's needs. It worked—really worked. And it inspired my neighbors, too.”
Five local farmers came to Vyizigiro, seeking guidance on how to establish their own onion crops. He didn’t hesitate.
"I coached them with joy,” he says. “What I’ve learned, I want to pass on. Because this isn’t just my story—it’s our community’s story.”
Vyizigiro’s role grew from farmer to leader. He became a village agent with Plant With Purpose. As part of his training, he studied the theology of work—a spiritual framework that helped him connect his labor to his faith.
"The Word of God taught me to lead with integrity,” he shares. “Now, I help my neighbors resolve conflicts. We’ve learned the value of peace and forgiveness. Our community is living more harmoniously because of this.”
This is what sustainable change looks like. Not just an improvement in one season or one household, but a ripple effect of restoration: healthier land, stronger relationships, and an empowered community. And importantly, freedom from the cycle of needing help again and again.
"We no longer wait for others to help us,” Vyizigiro says proudly. “We help ourselves. We help each other. This is what Plant With Purpose has made possible.”
In places like Rutana, where the effects of poverty and the climate crisis intertwine, sustainable solutions are crucial. Vyizigiro’s story demonstrates how investing in people and the planet creates a cycle of hope. His journey began with the generosity of those who believed change was possible.
"I thank Plant With Purpose Burundi for their effort to transform lives,” he concludes. “Because of this, we are growing not just crops, but a new way of life.”
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Your support fuels stories like Vyizigiro’s. By becoming a Purpose Partner, you help turn cycles of poverty and despair into cycles of purpose and sustainability. Join us in making lasting transformation possible.
