In a significant step towards empowering women and promoting sustainable livelihoods, ARDE/KUBAHO, in collaboration with Medicus Mundi, has been working closely with seven women’s cooperatives across in Kamonyi district. Through a series of specialized training programs, these women have been equipped with valuable skills that have improved their economic independence and enhanced their families’ quality of life.
The cooperatives involved in the initiative include ABATICUMUGAMBI in Kabuga, ABIBUMBYE in Kamonyi, ITUZE in Kigege, COEPOKA in Kayenzi, DUHARANIRUBUZIMA in Gatwa, TUZAMURANE in Gihara, and KOABA in Karama. As part of the training, ARDE/KUBAHO has provided women with essential resources to help them learn and excel in various crafts, including textile production and basketry.
KOABA-KARAMA Cooperative member working with a sewing machine
Textile production, a skill now practiced across all the cooperatives, has become a key income-generating activity for the women. The cooperatives have been supplied with materials such as fabrics, sewing machines, vitenge, threads, and needles, empowering the women to create beautiful textile products. The women have also learned how to mix paints and apply them in basketry, an art form primarily practiced at the KOABA-KARAMA cooperative.
The women, many of whom are single mothers, have not only gained new skills but have also been able to pass on their knowledge to fellow cooperative members and newcomers. This collaborative environment has fostered a strong sense of community and support, with the trained women sharing their expertise and encouraging others to embrace these income-generating crafts.
These income generating crafts have immensely improved their livelihoods
Thanks to the training and resources provided by ARDE/KUBAHO and Medicus Mundi, the cooperatives’ members are now able to earn sustainable incomes, significantly improving the livelihoods of their families. The impact of this initiative has been far-reaching, offering women the tools they need to achieve financial independence, while simultaneously strengthening the social fabric of the communities involved.
This partnership continues to make strides in women’s empowerment, showing the transformative power of skill development in driving positive change within local communities.
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