Habimana Sudi

A Struggle with Identity

My name is Habimana Sudi. For a long time, I lived with deep feelings of shame and rejection because of my identity as a marginalized person. People in the community would mock me, saying I didn’t even look like a Pygmy. I struggled to accept who I was.

In my pain, I turned to alcohol and made poor decisions, even mishandling the resources of many families. There were times I thought about leaving my own family. But everything began to shift when I saw a positive change in my wife, she had joined a group through Rabagirana Ministries. Her transformation gave me the courage to join too, just to see what was making a difference in her life.

Finding Acceptance

When I joined, I realized something beautiful: I wasn’t alone. Even as a man entering a pottery group and something traditionally not done. I was welcomed.

I found myself working side by side with people from other tribes, something I never imagined. For the first time, I felt confident and accepted, making vases with people who valued me, not for what tribe I came from, but for who I am. The income we’ve started earning has helped me begin to take responsibility in my family.

Building Unity Through Work

The cement training opened new doors, and I’m now being invited to create vases in homes across the community. What began as a survival craft is now a growing business, and I’m proud to be helping lead this change, not just making vases, but building unity and dignity through our work.