A Community Solution to Poverty
By Ezechiel Hatungimana
My leadership journey began with disappointment.
I approached a bank with a dream and request for a loan, only to be told I was ineligible because I lacked collateral. In Burundi, it’s extremely difficult to access opportunities unless you are part of the ultra-rich, forcing many to make deals on the black-market. I refused to accept this — while many peers said this was unchangeable, I resolved to challenge the mindset that we were dependent on institutions that ignored our needs. Instead, I began to ask, “How can we solve this together?”
My name is Ezechiel. I’m a husband, father of three, and founder of U-Invest and Pesa Yetu (meaning, “our money”), and I’ve dedicated my life to breaking cycles of poverty in Burundi. Over the years, I have discovered one principle that changes everything: collaborative leadership.
Poverty isolates people; collaboration brings them together to build solutions.
Pesa Yetu is a savings and investment initiative modelled on community ownership rather than individual loans. Think of it as a credit union built for community members, allowing them to pool savings and hold each other accountable.
Before joining the Abundant Leadership Institute (ALI), I struggled with mindset. In Burundi, many had labeled themselves as poor and incapable. At ALI, I was introduced to an asset-based approach to development, which showed me that as a leader, I shouldn’t bring all the answers but guide others to think for themselves. When communities brainstorm with local resources, they realize they can solve local problems. In a context where leaders burn out trying to carry everything alone, collaborative leadership transforms challenges into opportunities and fosters sustainability.
The first test came when launching Pesa Yetu. I could not carry this vision alone; I identified leaders who shared the vision, empowered them to guide others, and gave them space to make decisions. That empowerment worked. Today, more than 650 people across three provinces of Burundi have received financial education through Pesa Yetu. Many have become financially independent, created businesses, and generated jobs for young people and women.
This approach has shaped me as a leader: I now identify gifts and talents, invite contribution, and structure groups so that every team has two leaders interacting directly with me, ensuring shared ownership and sustainability.
Another example came in 2021. On the same day, two people visited my office - one with capital but no time, the other with no capital but time and an idea. I asked, “What potential could be unlocked if they collaborated?”
That question gave birth to the Come and Meet Your Business Partner Conference (CMBP). The first gathering was small, but made space for entrepreneurs to present themselves, connect with potential partners, and explore opportunities. What began with two people has become an international platform now preparing for its 5th edition, where hundreds of entrepreneurs and investors pitch ideas, network, and form partnerships.
What changed? Collaboration. Instead of standing alone before a banker’s rejection, communities now stand together with shared resources.
I’ve learnt that leadership is not about being Mr. Know-It-All, but about empowering others and drawing out the gifts, talents, and passions in your community. In Exodus, Jethro tells Moses, “The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.” Collaborative leadership is not new. It’s God’s design. Solving our country's challenges is too heavy for any of us alone.
Who around you carries untapped potential you could invite to the conversation?
What resources could you share to multiply impact instead of maintaining scarcity?
Where are you still trying to “carry it all yourself” instead of trusting others to walk with you?
My dream for Burundi is to build a financial ecosystem where those neglected by traditional banks can access tools to unleash their potential. My hope is for Pesa Yetu to grow into a licensed MicroFinance institution, serving not just 650 people but the wider population.
Through initiatives like CMBP, we can testify that diversity is a God-given opportunity to build strong networks, meaningful partnerships, and lasting businesses.
Collaboration does not weaken leadership - it multiplies it. Together, we can fight poverty, create jobs, and build a stronger nation.
Ezechiel Hatungimana is an alumnus of the Abundant Leadership Institute, a non-profit leader founding U-Invest and Pesa Yetu, and is on a mission to end poverty in Burundi.
LEARN MORE ABOUT KURUMBUKA
Abudnant Leadership Institute | www.kurumbuka.org/ali
Trek | www.kurumbuka.org/trek
LEARN MORE ABOUT EZECHIEL’S WORK