Sunday, June 04, 2006
May 25th, Thursday
Gitarama—Co op Training Graduation and Hand Over Ceremony
Talk about working together and making strides, USAID, RAP, Rwanda Knits, UNIFEM and BPeace held a knitting machine hand over ceremony and graduation for the 16 associations at the closing of the four-day training of “ Laying the Foundation for a Profitable Co-Op.” Cari never takes credit for “laying the foundation” for hand-loomed knitting in Rwanda and instead always stresses how wonderful the women are (which they are) and how she couldn’t do it without the help of Geoffrey and Bpeace. Congratulations to you Cari!
After a morning of instruction in doing an income statement and balance sheet, the business training came to a conclusion. It was then followed by the “hand-over” ceremony where the 630 knitting machines were handed over to the 16 different associations. Officials from USAID, UNIFEM, RAP, BPeace and Gitarama province were in attendance and spoke, congratulating the women and all involved in making this project such a success. But we’re not done yet – actually, we’re just beginning. Stay tuned for more updates on this……
Staging Peace and Health
Jesse Hawkes, Glenn Hawkes’ son (Glenn is the head of RAP), video taped the ceremony. He runs he own project, RAPSHIDA, an HIV awareness and education program employing theater as it’s medium and student performers. Beautiful AIDS pins are beaded by HIV positive people and sold to support the program. Three pins can be beaded by a person per day. Cari may turn them into necklaces and Anne and I have some (200) for anyone that wants to make a donation to support Jesse's efforts. We are looking into a fundraising co-venture theater event in New York City.
Smile…
Anne, Cari, and Roselyn, one of our interpreters, met with Ange Mukankuranga who operates a photography business from her home. Ange has been taking photos and shooting video for the past 9 years to support herself and her children, which include 9 orphans. She wants to expand her business but needs help in forming a strategy.Eat…Marla, Richard and Loretta met with Francoise Mukarugomwa who owns the Restaurant Amahoro, a restaurant serving traditional Rwandan food. It’s located in the center of city, right next to an express taxi stand. Francoise has invested her profits in expanding her business and opening another restaurant, Amahoro B. Amahoro B is near one of the big hotels in Kigali. Now, Francoise wants to expand her catering services. Francoise needs help in bookkeeping and help in developing her vision to build a hotel.
Lead…
Anne also met with Angelina Muganza, Minister of State, Public Service and Labor, Senator Odette and other members of the Unity Club, an organization comprised of current and former women government ministers, as well as wives of government ministers. Their mission is to promote and strengthen unity among women leaders, through mentoring, advocacy and networking. They are extremely interested in partnering with us to work towards empowering women to have a bigger voice take leadership roles.
We are FAMILY
Tonight the entire team went to Peace’s house, (Manny’s sister), for dinner with his family in her beautiful house overlooking the city... Manny's parents welcomed us and told us how happy they were that Manny met us. They also said that now we, too, are part of the family. Only last week, Manny’s parents celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. We shared an incredible Rwandan with his family, including his other siblings and extended family. (Manny has three brothers and four sisters.) It was so nice to be welcomed into a Rwandan home and we did feel like part of the family.
Talk about working together and making strides, USAID, RAP, Rwanda Knits, UNIFEM and BPeace held a knitting machine hand over ceremony and graduation for the 16 associations at the closing of the four-day training of “ Laying the Foundation for a Profitable Co-Op.” Cari never takes credit for “laying the foundation” for hand-loomed knitting in Rwanda and instead always stresses how wonderful the women are (which they are) and how she couldn’t do it without the help of Geoffrey and Bpeace. Congratulations to you Cari!
After a morning of instruction in doing an income statement and balance sheet, the business training came to a conclusion. It was then followed by the “hand-over” ceremony where the 630 knitting machines were handed over to the 16 different associations. Officials from USAID, UNIFEM, RAP, BPeace and Gitarama province were in attendance and spoke, congratulating the women and all involved in making this project such a success. But we’re not done yet – actually, we’re just beginning. Stay tuned for more updates on this……
Staging Peace and Health
Jesse Hawkes, Glenn Hawkes’ son (Glenn is the head of RAP), video taped the ceremony. He runs he own project, RAPSHIDA, an HIV awareness and education program employing theater as it’s medium and student performers. Beautiful AIDS pins are beaded by HIV positive people and sold to support the program. Three pins can be beaded by a person per day. Cari may turn them into necklaces and Anne and I have some (200) for anyone that wants to make a donation to support Jesse's efforts. We are looking into a fundraising co-venture theater event in New York City.
Smile…
Anne, Cari, and Roselyn, one of our interpreters, met with Ange Mukankuranga who operates a photography business from her home. Ange has been taking photos and shooting video for the past 9 years to support herself and her children, which include 9 orphans. She wants to expand her business but needs help in forming a strategy.Eat…Marla, Richard and Loretta met with Francoise Mukarugomwa who owns the Restaurant Amahoro, a restaurant serving traditional Rwandan food. It’s located in the center of city, right next to an express taxi stand. Francoise has invested her profits in expanding her business and opening another restaurant, Amahoro B. Amahoro B is near one of the big hotels in Kigali. Now, Francoise wants to expand her catering services. Francoise needs help in bookkeeping and help in developing her vision to build a hotel.
Lead…
Anne also met with Angelina Muganza, Minister of State, Public Service and Labor, Senator Odette and other members of the Unity Club, an organization comprised of current and former women government ministers, as well as wives of government ministers. Their mission is to promote and strengthen unity among women leaders, through mentoring, advocacy and networking. They are extremely interested in partnering with us to work towards empowering women to have a bigger voice take leadership roles.
We are FAMILY
Tonight the entire team went to Peace’s house, (Manny’s sister), for dinner with his family in her beautiful house overlooking the city... Manny's parents welcomed us and told us how happy they were that Manny met us. They also said that now we, too, are part of the family. Only last week, Manny’s parents celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. We shared an incredible Rwandan with his family, including his other siblings and extended family. (Manny has three brothers and four sisters.) It was so nice to be welcomed into a Rwandan home and we did feel like part of the family.
