At the Musenyi refugee site, determination and resilience are helping families rebuild their lives despite difficult circumstances. One inspiring example is Bashombe Stephanie, a Congolese refugee and baker whose small business continues to grow with the support of Spring Communities.
“My name is Bashombe Stephanie,” she says proudly. “I am one of the people who work with Spring Communities. I have been working as a baker since I joined this Musenyi site. That is my job.”
Stephanie’s journey into baking began modestly. What started as making cakes gradually expanded into bread production as she gained confidence, experience, and a small income.
“I started making cakes and I continued little by little until I started making bread,” she explains. “I started making one bag of bread. When the profit came, I found money and invested it again.”
Her entrepreneurial spirit pushed her forward, but limited resources remained a major challenge. With support from Spring Communities, Stephanie was able to take an important next step in growing her bakery business.
Inside her workspace, Stephanie carefully shows the different parts of her bakery operation — where the bread is prepared, where it is baked, and where the firewood is stored to fuel the ovens. Every step reflects hard work, persistence, and hope for a better future.
Despite her progress, challenges remain. Stephanie still lacks important baking equipment that would allow her to increase production and improve the quality of her products.
“The problem I am facing is that I have not found other molds to use for the small cakes,” she explains. “The lack of pans is still a challenge. Having these would help me expand my bakery to different places, even in the city. If God helps me, that is my goal.”
Her dream is clear: to grow from a small refugee-site bakery into a thriving business that can serve larger communities beyond Musenyi.
Together with Street Child Burundi, and with funding from The Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation, Spring Communities continues to strengthen livelihoods, education, and child protection for refugee families in Musenyi. Through initiatives like Stephanie’s bakery, refugee entrepreneurs are gaining the tools, support, and opportunities needed to build brighter and more sustainable futures.
