Project Launch:

In 2009, a group of 28 expectant mothers living with HIV formed at the Nyacyonga Health Center in the hills just outside of Kigali, Rwanda. These women were bound together by a common goal: to prevent the transmission of HIV to their unborn children. They named their group Ejo Hazaza, which means "tomorrow," signifying that their efforts would lead to a better tomorrow for themselves and their families. To ensure they had sustainable funds for healthcare, the women formed an economic cooperative and began making jewelry and beautiful beads from recycled Rwandan glass. They also started dreaming about the possibility of launching another income-generating activity, raising chickens and selling eggs locally.

World Connect supported the group by funding their capacity building efforts, literacy classes, English language and computer skills development, as well as providing necessary equipment for the cooperative to grow and thrive. The money the women were able to generate from their cooperative activities changed the dynamics of power in their community. They started saving money and were able to purchase a plot of land, where soon they plan to build their chicken coop and their own cooperative workshop.

 

Testimonials

"During my work with Ejo Hazaza I witnessed dramatic changes in their confidence, work ethic and commitment to making their cooperative financially sustainable and beneficial for all the women involved. When I first arrived the women were suspicious of each other and skeptical of their chances for success, but through our weekly classes, informal meetings, business trainings, and after the introduction of a new, extremely-dedicated, female manager who could more closely identify with the hardships and trials of the womens' everyday lives, noticeable improvements in their behavior and work ethic arose. Now they work more effectively as a team. They take the time to talk about the future of the cooperative and where they want to be and how they need to grow to get there. They take the time to notice the varied skills of individual cooperative members and use them for the benefit of the cooperative as a whole." - Kim Baskin, Peace Corps Volunteer