An Insight into “Tubusezere” Cooperative—of former Sex Workers

“Tubusezere Twihangire Imiromo” is a cooperative of former sex workers operating from Kibuye town in Karongi District, Western Province. It is hardly a year in operation and has registered a total of 41 members so far. Claudine Mutungirehe, 35, is the President of the cooperative.

Tubusezere Cooperative is one of outcomes of SFH Rwanda’s various HIV/AIDS interventions in the Province. Following its establishment in April 2012, HIV/IDS is one of the five intervention areas that the first ever social marketing non-profit organisation in Rwanda (SFH) has vested a lot of emphasis.

Claudine recalls that SFH organized a training workshop last March at Golf Hotel in Kibuye that attracted many sex workers from the area. “SFH came with a unique approach unlike other NGOs that engaged us before. They counseled and trained us on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. Most important, SFH recruited us as trainers—equipped us with enough skills and knowledge to be their ambassadors to our colleagues”, she explained. As a takeaway of the workshop SFH advised them to form a cooperative—hence the birth of Tubusezere Twihangire Imiromo cooperative. SFH works with Community Based Organisations (CBOs); either cooperatives or Associations in its programs and social marketing campaigns implementation.

The Cooperative President, also former sex worker, reveals that she joined prostitution at an early age of 18, a few years after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsis. Her family used to stay in Huye, Southern Province but she lost all them and “I decided to join prostitution to survive”. She later on relocated from Huye to Kibuye Town. She describes Kibuye as a “magnate” of prostitutes in Rwanda. “I am sure Kibuye attracts more prostitute than any part of Rwanda. We currently estimate over 700 active prostitutes in this town, some of whom migrate from Kigali and other parts of Rwanda, Congo, and Burundi. Prostitutes here are of all types, the aged and young (mostly students),”

For Claudine, she quit prostitution about 10 years ago. SFH supports the association members with startup capital to start small businesses and have been selected as Community Based Distributers (CBDs) of SFH Health Products like Condoms (Prudence and Plasir). The President is one of the beneficiaries. She now sells fruits and vegetables in Kibuye Market. “SFH has helped us restore our value in society. People now perceive us as reformers”.

Uwase Juzel, 22, one of the cooperative members (in Blue T-shirt) joined a few months ago. She’s a mother to a five year son but says she even doesn’t know the father to her kid. “Men that I think are father to my kid deny responsibility for they know I used to sleep with a variety of men. I could sleep with an average of five men a day. I have given up on men. My son’s Father’s is Jesus”, she jokes. She regrets having been a prostitute. “I wish I never engaged in prostitution”. For the years she traded her body Uwase reveals that she only managed to buy one asset—a Mattress of 15,000rwf. “Money from prostitution is worthless and full of curses. You only earn to eat, buy trendy clothes to look young to stay competitive on the street.” Now she also sells fruits and sweet bananas (Imineke) in Kibuye Market. On average she makes a profit of 2,000rwf a day, eats rwf800 and the rest she saves in her Bwisyhura Sacco account. She can now afford to look after her son, pay school fees for a brother and also pay rent.

To join the cooperative, President Claudine says one has to be a former sex worker and pays membership fee of only rwf5, 000. Members benefit training on HIV/AIDS and Family Planning by SFH on a monthly basis. The cooperative is also one of the CBOs that SFH works with to sell products like condoms (Prudence and Plasir) to rural folks at affordable prices. SFH has slashed prices of condoms to ensure increased usage. Prudence was reduced from Rwf300 to only rwf100. Plasir was reduced from Rwf500 to only rwf200. On a condom vending machine one slots in Rwf300 only to get any of the two brands. SFH has established a strong distribution network composed of wholesalers, sub-wholesalers and retailers. Condoms are also sold through Community Based Distributers (CBDs). Tubusezere Twihangire Imiromo cooperative has supported all members to obtain health insurance (Mutuelle de Sante). President says members are encouraged to go for voluntary HIV testing and counseling.

SFH’s HIV program includes social marketing of HIV products and services and targeted HIV communication activities which combine mass media, interpersonal communication (IPC), community mobilization, and advocacy. As part of the HIV prevention program, SFH implements social marketing of branded condoms. SFH acts as the principal agent for the distribution of the PSI’s established brands and has recently introduced new brands like PLASIR. The HIV field activities include HIV counseling and testing, STIs and TB screening, male circumcision, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, and family planning/HIV integration and collectively comprise a complete package of services to reduce HIV transmission among youth and Key Populations (KPs) or Most at Risk Populations (MAPRS). The KPs identified by SFH are; former sex workers, Men having Sex with Men (MSM), Truck Drivers, and Motorists.