Hunger tests love among young couples in ways that emotions alone cannot always overcome. While affection, loyalty, and commitment remain important foundations of relationships, many young couples today are discovering that love without basic necessities such as food and financial stability can quickly become strained.
Across Rwanda and beyond, daily hardships like limited income, unemployment, and rising living costs are testing patience and unity. Empty cupboards and uncertainty about tomorrow are creating stress, misunderstandings, and emotional fatigue even among couples who deeply care for one another.
Voices from young couples: Hunger testing love daily
Rukundo Fiston, 23, from Kigali’s Gasabo District, shared his experience with an Afriwed journalist, explaining how poverty affects his relationship.
“Sometimes my partner comes to visit, and I have nothing to offer her not even a simple snack or porridge. I feel embarrassed and frustrated. Even though we love each other, I worry about our future,” he said.
Similarly, Eric Uwizeyimana, 25, from Muhanga, described the emotional toll of hunger on love:
“We care deeply for each other, but when there is no food at home and she visits, I feel ashamed. It’s hard to focus on love when your stomach is empty.”
Girls’ perspective: Love meets reality
From the women’s side, hunger tests love in equally painful ways.
Josiane Ingabire, 25, from Kigali, explained:
“You may love someone deeply, but when you visit and realize there’s nothing to eat, it makes you seriously question the future. It’s funny and sad at the same time.”
Yvette Umuhire, 24, also from Kigali, was more direct:
“If I visit someone and they cannot even provide food, no matter how much I love them, I cannot stay.”
Hunger tests love: What studies say
What these young couples describe reflects broader global findings. A 2025 survey by Money Wellness, a financial wellbeing platform, found that 28% of respondents said money worries had damaged their relationships. Released during Mental Health Awareness Week, the survey highlighted how financial stress spills into emotional wellbeing and relationship stability.
(Outbound link suggestion: Money Wellness | Mental health and financial stress studies)
Leadership advice: Planning beyond love
Addressing these challenges, leaders continue to urge young people to combine love with preparation.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame, speaking at the Africa Food Systems Forum 2025 in Dakar, Senegal, emphasized resilience and planning:
“Let’s not run away from problems. Wherever you run, you will find problems. The important thing is to have goals and find solutions,” he said.
His message resonates strongly in relationships where hunger tests love daily reminding couples that survival, planning, and responsibility matter just as much as emotions.
(Outbound link suggestion: Africa Food Systems Forum | Youth empowerment initiatives)
Love needs more than feelings
Running away from financial challenges does not solve them; it often worsens them. In relationships, true love requires practical action, preparation, and shared problem-solving to survive life’s hardships.
As hunger continues to test love among young couples, many are learning a difficult but vital lesson: love may start in the heart, but it survives through planning, effort, and meeting basic needs.
