Rwanda knits economic development

Rwanda Knits brings together women who want to become economically active. Four years ago Carl Clement donated 50 knitting machines to Rwanda Allied for Peace and Progress (RAPP). Geofrey Katushabe, Rwanda Knits project manager, says that the organisation started with a view of bringing together women who were facing extreme poverty. “Most of our members were connected to other non profit organisations such as AIDS organisation AVEGA. Others were just housewives who could either go to dig for money that was not enough to cater for their various problems,” explains Katushabe. The organisation started with about 200 women who were trained with the 50 machines donated by founder and now programme manager, Clement. “80 per cent of our members did not acquire formal education. But this is not very important, because they only need basic knowledge to operate the machines,” says Katushabe. In four short years the project has accumulated 1000 women working in different groups. “RAPP applied for a grant from USAID which was granted. The organisation was able to acquire 630 machines that we now use to facilitate the 1000 members we have,” says Katushabe. The organisation started with only three groups of women from different districts but after getting more machines the other groups were created. Rwanda Knits now has 29 cooperatives which operate in different districts around the country. Rwanda Knits produces school uniforms for schools with in the country. Katushabe explains that they have a potential local and international market that may lead to great things for members in the not so distant future. Locally, Rwanda Knits has an order of about 2000 sweaters for schools. But Geoffrey says this is not enough work for an organisation that has 1000 members. “Most schools buy sweaters from Uganda and Kenya which is a bit expensive. Our sweaters are only valued at Frw6,500 which is cheaper than most of these sweaters that are produced from outside the country. Our aim is to produce the best and market our products locally to out compete the imported products,” says Katushabe. On an international level, the organisation has recently received an order to make 2,000 scarves that will be exported to the United States. “We have people in the USA that market our products. Currently, there are four marketers who are working with international celebrates, such as those working in televisions,” says Katushabe. The project manager says that Rwanda Knits groups around the country are working to register as fully created cooperatives as per government policy to see associations turn into cooperatives that are economic driven for the countries development. So far ten groups out of twenty nine groups have already registered as cooperatives up to the national level. Katushabe explains how they are campaigning for all groups to come under one union, an umbrella that will be responsible for many of the tasks to see further development of the organisation. “The union will be assigned to do market research, bargain the contracts and help in the legal procedures of Rwanda knits. It will further help in the quality control so that our products access a wider market,” says Katushabe. Esperance Nyirarusimbi, a member of Rwanda Knits in Urumuri cooperative that operates from Rwamagana says that she has gained alot from the organisation. “I used to stay home without any income generating activity. Our group was the first to be ready and we have made a lot of progress. I personally have got two kids of my own and other two of my relatives that died in the 1994 Genocide. I manage to cater for all these people because of Rwanda Knits,” says Nyirarusimbi. Nyirarusimbi says that most of the members are children who were left alone after the Genocide claimed their parents. “These children look after themselves with whatever they get from the cooperatives sometimes looking after other family members,” says Nyirarusimbi. She says that at first they used to work and take home whatever they earned but later, all members decided to save with the organisation. Theodosie Mukayisenge says that she joined Rwanda Knits in 2004 and is now among the teachers who train other members all over the country. There are seven teachers who trave to different parts of the country, teaching those who do not know how to use the knitting machines. Mukayisenge is happy that she can now meet most of her basic requirements such as shelter, medical care, food and clothes. Laura Hanison from the USA is among the people helping Rwanda Knits to achieve more through trainings. Hanison is responsible for cooperative development coordination of. “These women have the potential to develop themselves and can earn much more from knitting that can improve their lives,” says Hanison who after working on research about development associations from Whitman College in the USA become interested in Rwanda and decided to come and help. Katushabe explains that their way forward is to see every member self sustainable and welcomes every woman who may wish to join. Entry is free and equally one can leave at any given time. Ends