Meet the Women of Indego Africa
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Check out this guest post from Indego Africa volunteer Sarah Dunigan. For more Indego Africa stories, check out their blog, Social Enterprising:
I am often asked what drives me to volunteer in Africa. I find it hard to put into words, but sharing a story often helps.
For the past two months I have had the pleasure of volunteering for Indego Africa, an innovative social enterprise empowering hundreds of women in Rwanda to lift themselves out of poverty by selling their fair trade handicrafts and returning 100% of profits to fund training programs in business management, entrepreneurship, microfinance, computers and literacy. Until recently, Indego Africa’s cooperative partners, Cocoki and Covanya, had never sold their handicrafts in the local Rwandan market. Instead, orders have always been picked up at the cooperatives by Indego Africa and shipped to the United States. But last Friday, at the U.S. Embassy Holiday Crafts Fair here in Rwanda, everything changed.
The cooperatives were in full preparation mode in the weeks leading up to the fair. The foot-powered sewing machines at Cocoki whirred as the artisans created their unique textile products. Rows of women lined the floor at Covanya weaving and individually signing the tags on their brightly colored baskets. They even requested that Indego Africa lead extra training sessions on business English, product pricing and accounting.
When the day of the fair arrived, the women were still feeling a bit unsure of themselves. Upon arrival at the market, we even discovered that other handicraft organizations were, unfortunately, not represented by their artisans. But the women took a collective deep breath and got to it – and the customers responded!
Covanya nearly cleared out their entire inventory of baskets, and Cocoki’s yoga bags and laptop sleeves were flying off the table. The women’s English rapidly improved as they answered questions about pricing and styles. They handled the money, wrote out receipts, and even balanced their receipt books against their cash drawer at the end of the day to make sure they matched.
This was a defining moment for the women of Indego Africa. They were learning by doing and the result was a dramatic increase of confidence in their capabilities as independent businesswomen. As the number of products dwindled, Daphrose, a master weaver at Covanya, turned to me and said through a huge smile, “This gives us courage!”
-Sarah Dunigan, Indego Africa Volunteer in Rwanda
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October 28, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Wow, this sounds like a great approach.
October 28, 2009 at 3:29 pm
What a terrific story! Having purchased some of their baskets and given them as Christmas gifts, I know how wonderful their work is. Looking forward to giving yoga bags and laptop sleeves this year!
October 28, 2009 at 3:33 pm
That is amazing! The women of Indego Africa are truly working hard to rebuild Rwandan communities.
October 28, 2009 at 5:22 pm
With so much focus on exports, global supply chains, and what % of revenues end up in the pockets of producers, it is nice to see the domestic angle of things – both building domestic/regional markets, and the very hands-on skills of running a business that can be transferred through these types of initiatives.
October 28, 2009 at 5:38 pm
You go, girls! Good work.
October 28, 2009 at 6:13 pm
I have been impressed with Indego Africa’s work and continue to be inspired by the team dedication. How wonderful that Indego Africa is now pioneering sales in Africa’s untapped market too. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with exporting to consumers in the West, but I love the idea of seeing opportunity everywhere, especially in Africa’s too often overlooked backyard. Bravo, Indego Africa. Keep doing it!
October 28, 2009 at 6:20 pm
The ownership that these women have over the entire process from production to sales is impressive. I would like to get my hands on some of their goods.
October 28, 2009 at 9:35 pm
While I applaud the people of Indego Africa & theis volunteers, I would just like to offer that similar women’s co-operatives like this exist throughout the African Continent.
One of these co-operatives is an organization that many at ONE already know about – the Mulago Positive Women’s Network (MPWN). This network of nearly 70 HIV+ women in Kampala Uganda have been together for over five years and are headed by a woman that everybody at ONE should know – Ugandan AIDS activist Agnes Nyamayarwo.
Agnes is the African woman that Bono chose to travel with him for five years (2002-2007), speaking about the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa & helping to mobilize thousands of people to join ONE. She is a clinical nurse, and HIV/AIDS counselor with TASO, The AIDS Support Organization of Uganda.
TASO is the pre-eminent African HIV/AIDS organization – working for over 22 years to reach the people of Africa with their anti-AIDS & “living positively” message.
Like Indego Africa, the money raised from the sale of the MPWN’s handmade African crafts goes DIRECTLY BACK to the women of the MPWN to help them further empower themselves & their children out of poverty.
I encourage ONE supporters to check out our website for the MPWN & Agnes, along with our MySpace & Facebook profiles for them, and try find a few dollars to purchase some of their EXCELLENT African crafts.
IF WE CAN’T SUPPORT ONE INTERNATIONAL SPOKESPERSON AGNES NYAMAYARWO & HER EFFORTS TO EMPOWER POOR WOMEN IN AFRICA, then who can we in good conscience support?
We hope to hear from you soon.
ALWAYS FOREVER, ONE – debbie
http://www.mpwn-uganda.org
October 29, 2009 at 12:01 am
These are inspiring stories and comments and if we have any “human spirit” they should inspire all of us to want to reach out a hand to the world of poverty and negelect, especially in these area where women’s rights have been meaningless for ages. The abuse these women and their children are exposed to is beyond what can be properly be described in words on a sheet of paper!
These women show more courage, love and commitment to their group cooperative projects than any CEO of any major CORP. can ever buy in the Wall Street World!
October 29, 2009 at 12:14 am
Indego Africa’s work and the women of Cocoki and Covanya are truly inspirational. A brilliant model!
October 29, 2009 at 8:11 am
Like the growing spiral of skills, soon they’ll be opening retail establishments and small factories, what comes after that?
October 29, 2009 at 11:36 am
Great story! It is a testament to the resilience of these women. It is wonderful to see this type of success. I have purchased their products in the past and, hopefully, will in the future! Keep up the great work.
October 29, 2009 at 6:45 pm
I love this story- wish I could have been there to witness it!
October 30, 2009 at 2:10 am
There is nothing like getting your feet wet. Their courage took them into the deep blue. Fantastic.
October 30, 2009 at 3:12 pm
A truly inspiring story. I think my favorite part is how these women are becomning “business savvy’ and able to take care of their own business finances and such. Very empowering and I love to see that.
Much respect for these women.
October 31, 2009 at 9:47 pm
Congratulations Indego Africa. I applaud your work and look forward to reading more success stories!
November 10, 2009 at 4:13 pm
It seems that Indego Africa has developed precisely the right approach to enable the inspiring women of Rwanda to reach their full potential. Brilliant.