Blaise & Agathe: Education Restored, Hope Renewed

For Blaise (16) and his sister Agathe (13), the future once looked bleak. After their father abandoned the family and fled to Tanzania, their mother was left to raise the children alone. She worked tirelessly on other people’s farms, but her income was barely enough to cover food, let alone school fees. By the 2024–2025 school year, both children were on the verge of dropping out facing the painful reality of interrupted education and a future without opportunities.

WiGLI stepped in through its Household-Centered Targeting Approach. During a community assessment, the family was identified among the most vulnerable. To protect Blaise and Agathe’s right to education, WiGLI intervened by covering their annual school fees, amounting to 650,000 BIF, allowing the siblings to stay in school and continue learning without disruption.

Yet WiGLI’s support went further. Believing in sustainable empowerment rather than dependency, WiGLI provided their mother with start-up resources to launch a small enterprise. This investment not only restored her dignity but also gave her the capacity to support her children’s education long-term.

Impact: Today, in the 2025–2026 academic year, Blaise and Agathe are thriving in school. Their mother is proudly managing her small business, contributing steadily to their education and family needs.

This story reflects WiGLI’s commitment to breaking cycles of poverty through holistic support protecting children’s education while empowering caregivers with the means to sustain it.

➡️ When families are strengthened, children’s futures are secured.

➡️ Empowering families means breaking cycles of poverty.