Elie’s Journey From Uncertainty to Empowerment with Fixa

Elie's Story

For 15 years, Elie Maniragaba worked as a carpenter in Rwanda’s informal construction sector. Like many in the field, he often found himself between jobs, struggling to find consistent work. That all changed two years ago when he was onboarded with Fixa.

“I have never been out of employment ever since, which is unusual to me. This was the first time I went this long without being out of work.”

With a stable income, Elie began building the kind of life he had long hoped for. In just two years, he constructed a home for his growing family in Kigali. This was no small feat—he had recently welcomed twins, adding to his three children. The consistency of work allowed him to enroll all his kids in private schools and cover their daily needs with peace of mind.

Financial security wasn’t just about income; it was also about access. For Elie, Fixa’s Earned Wage Access (EWA) feature made a real difference. In moments of urgency, EWA became his go-to solution.

“EWA saves our lives daily. Instead of going to borrow high-interest loans from places where they don’t know us, we get money faster and without stress.”

In the past, emergencies forced Elie to rely on cooperatives that charged high interest—even on small amounts. But EWA gave him control and confidence. When he lost a close relative, he was able to withdraw part of his wages before payday to manage the situation without delay.

Beyond managing the present, Fixa has helped Elie invest in his future. He’s now building a poultry farm that he hopes will sustain him when he eventually retires.

“I bought 20 chickens out of the money I got from EWA to start the farm. I intend to invest most of my money from Fixa to make it bigger and sustainable.”

His long-term vision is clear: to become self-employed, and he feels he’s finally on the right path.

With a home of his own, children in school, and a business taking shape, Elie’s story is a reminder that consistency, support, and opportunity can transform lives, and that impact is exactly what Fixa was built to deliver.