Muhereza Wence: A Change Agent Sowing Seeds of Change in His Community

In a village, nestled within the heart of a vibrant countryside, comes Muhereza Wence, determined to champion changes in his community.

This 33-year-old young man makes the most of the trust he’s earned from his community to sow seeds of change in his community.

Before being a Change Agent, Muhereza was already widely known in the village, albeit for a different role; news messenger. From church gatherings to bustling village streets, Muhereza has been effortlessly relaying news and tidbits, becoming a thread that weaves the community together.

He believes this must be the skill that caught the eye of the village leaders and fellow community members when they were looking to appoint the community Change Agent.

“When I was chosen as a Change Agent, I was filled with joy. I was proud that I was chosen to be an agent of change for my community” he recalls

Immediately after his appointment, a few issues became his village’s priority; the loss of soil fertility, lack of clean water, dilapidated roads, and the absence of a health facility. The community rallied around these issues, with the deteriorating roads taking precedence due to their multifaceted impact on daily life.

Quickly he realized collaboration with local leaders is of paramount importance were he to succeed in his new role. Luckily, building collaborative relationships with the village chairperson and even those from the sub-county level of Ruhija, came about effortlessly.

This smooth start, he believes, dispelled initial fears of mistrust between him and the leader that he anticipated at the beginning of his role

Despite challenges, such as a lack of enough right tools to address challenges like soil improvement, Muhereza is encouraged by the unity and unwavering dedication of his fellow community members.