Indego Africa currently partners with more than 250 remarkable women in Rwanda, many of whom cope with HIV/AIDS; suffer from psychological trauma; have little formal education; care for several children, including orphans from the Genocide in 1994; and are the sole providers for their households.

The women are organized as independent cooperatives, a corporate form that promotes the well-being of its members through democracy, equity, and equal rights to assets.  Cooperatives are grounded in the Rwandan value of ubufashanye, which means the spirit of mutual assistance.

Before joining forces with Indego Africa, 76% of the women earned less than 500 RwF (US$0.50) per day — typically by carrying water on an unreliable basis. This paucity of income has devastating effects.  About 33% of Rwandans are under-nourished, 40% of Rwandan women cannot read and only 51% of children in Rwanda can attend school regularly. 

Connected to export markets, the women not only earn up to 4,800 RwF (US$4.50) per day but — with the return of 100% of the remaining profits to their cooperatives — they are also able to fund (a) training programs in long-term skills and (b) infrastructure and capital upgrades (such as electricity, running water, building repairs, and new sewing machines).

Click below to learn more about Cocoki and Covanya, Indego Africa's two main partners.  

 And click here to download the vibrant document: "THE WOMEN OF INDEGO AFRICA "

THE INDEGO AFRICA DIFFERENCE

A distinctive feature of our business model is the mutual reliance between Indego Africa and its partners.  Partnering with Indego Africa requires a deeper buy-in from cooperatives because both parties depend upon each other for their success:  (a) Indego Africa requires revenue from its partners’ handicrafts and (b) its partners rely on Indego Africa’s market connections and training programs.  This relationship builds cross-cultural respect.

Through the benefits of economic cooperation, ethnic groups also become more aware that their mutual success lies in moving beyond historical tensions.  Finally, because training program are funded by handicraft profits, the women are less dependent on Indego Africa and experience improved self-confidence – thus challenging the aid dependence paradigm.