The Nziza Collective
$5,765
Raised
12
Donations
$12,000
Goal
Many women living around Lake Kivu, Rwanda are single mothers, victims of abuse, and in need of work to provide for their children. Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee brought over 200 of these women together to build community, provide counseling, and teach skills needed for work. We called this project the Nziza Collective. Nziza means beautiful.
The women of the Nziza Collective work as coffee farmers at the Land of a Thousand Hills Kivu Lake Coffee Washing Station. One year ago, we asked these women what they need to flourish even more.
The answer was clear - additional sources of income to provide the necessary support for their children during the coffee off-season.
But what would it be?
In Ruli, Rwanda, a distant community from Kivu, we saw a basket weaving cooperative that creates gorgeous baskets from straw and other fibrous materials. What better work to introduce to a community whose name means beautiful.
Through our non-profit, the Do Good Initiative, and our generous supporters, we have provided the women of Nziza with the supplies and education necessary to learn how to sew textiles and weave baskets, and they have flourished.
We believe the Nziza Collective will assist in lifting women and their children from poverty, as they learn new skills to become economically independent. Our desire and focus is enhanced entrepreneurship and employment opportunities, by training the women in skills such as basket weaving, sewing and reading.
The following pyramid shows our goals of expansion for 2019-2020:
Our goal is to continually grow the Nziza Collective every year. Your donation goes towards the continuous purchase of sewing machines, raw materials for baskets weaving, training necessary for skill advancements, and the onboarding of new women into this collective.
Interested in purchasing a basket that was handwoven by these women? click here.
Purchase coffee grown by the Nziza women, click here.
Thank you for your support!