Tag Archive for: weavers

Basket Weaving in Rwanda: A Story of Resilience and Empowerment

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A note from Azizi Life: We are honored to have Katrina Makuch…

Tunozumurimo Cooperative

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Tunozumurimo members used to work separately and their income was too low because of lack of ideas, market and experience. [highlight] cooperative, selling the quality of products made by law materials found in their community; It is like sharing with the beauty, culture and knowledge of rural Rwandan community. .[/highlight]

Icyizere Cooperative

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Icyizere group learned sewing, print-making, pearls beautification and weaving. They decided to focus on weaving bowls and trivets because of the opportunity to work with Azizi Life.[highlight]With help from Azizi Life, Icyizere Shyogwe became more organized, members’ skills improved and they received fair wages for their products. ![/highlight]

Twuzuzanye Cooperative

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Twuzuzanye Weavers is a group that is able to pay their family needs, able to make savings and they have good reputation in their area.

Helping People, Saving Gorillas: Our Partnership with Azizi Life

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A note from Azizi Life: We are thrilled to have been chosen by the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund to facilitate the gift shop, artisan demonstrations, and artisan Experience days at the new Ellen DeGeneres Campus, which opened on February 1 st...

Gorillas, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, Ellen, and Azizi Life: The Story Behind Our Latest Collaboration

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On her November 4, 2021, show, Ellen DeGeneres was gifted a one-of-a-kind Gorilla Nose Print Basket by the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund CEO.  This basket was created by an expert weaver in partnership with Azizi Life!

Abihuta mu Iterambere Cooperative

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Within their first year of working together, the artisans of Abihuta were happy to find that they were able to start a savings group, pay for their family’s national health insurance and serve as an example and inspiration for their neighbors. [highlight]We love our customers around the world.[/highlight]

Practical, Beautiful, Purposeful: A Mother’s Day Gift Guide

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Biological mothers and women who have stepped in to provide the…

Abarikumwe Association

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The women of Abarikumwe are skilled farmers, excellent weavers, and delightful Experiences hostesses. One of Azizi Life’s first artisan partner groups, Abarikumwe has grown together with us, with much laughter along the way. The Abarikumwe artisans specialize in weaving jewelry from natural sisal fibers. [highlight]We are honored to introduce you to the creators of the very first Azizi Life Experience Day![/highlight]

Abihuje Cooperative

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The founders of Abihuje began with the hope that if they joined their strength and knowledge together, they could work towards a solution to their poverty. As they began to work together, the group not only grew in skill, but in friendship and mutual support. The women of Abihuje specialize in weaving Rwandan Sisal Peace Baskets.[highlight]With fair wages from their weaving and the strength of their friendships and faith, the women of Abihuje are raising their families out of poverty.[/highlight]

Zamuka Cooperative

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The women of the Zamuka cooperative are focused and determined. They are determined to be excellent weavers. They are determined to support one another. They are determined to build a strong foundation for their cooperative, their families, and their community. The income from weaving means that they can invest in the health of their land and their families. [highlight]As a result of our weaving, our children have increased access to nutrition, health, and education.[/highlight]

Twivanemubukene Cooperative

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The weavers of Twivanemubukene work together not only to get out of physical poverty through their craft sales, but also to support and encourage one another in all aspects of life. The women care for one another and help each other with loans from the group for urgent needs, and increased income which enables them to purchase food, soap, clothing, and school supplies. Guests rave about their Experience Days with Twivanemubukene artisans! [highlight]Every week, we each make a contribution to the group, which is used for members in need.[/highlight]

Kundagaseke Cooperative

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Kundagaseke’s artistic specialty is weaving traditional Rwandan baskets from natural sisal fibers. The weavers’ primary desire is to connect with customers – a large and sustainable market – so that their weaving can provide a consistent income for them and their families. The members of the group also hope to keep progressing so they can follow their individual dreams: like paying tuition for their children to go to school. [highlight] Our purpose is to fight against poverty and to develop ourselves.[/highlight]

Kanguka Cooperative

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Priska Kanakuze is the founder of the Kanguka Cooperative. She has passed down her weaving skills and Priska’s daughter Redempta is also a member of the group. [highlight]When I was in the hospital about to have my first baby, I was scared. But then I remembered that it was Wednesday delivery day and at Azizi Life, my friends would be gathered together, praying for me. Then I felt assured and strengthened to bring my baby boy into the world.[/highlight] - Redempta

Ingobokarugo Cooperative

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The Ingabokarugo “Helping Our Homes” Cooperative is made up of more than twenty women who endeavor to contribute to the livelihoods of their families through weaving. These artisans also are much-loved hostesses of Azizi Life Experiences guests. [highlight]Our financial independence has improved our relationships with our husbands and enabled us to contribute to our households.[/highlight]

Duteraninkunga Cooperative

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The weavers of Duteraninkunga began as members of a savings and loan group who discovered that many had skills in weaving. Those weavers taught others in their group, and eventually a weaving cooperative was born. [highlight]With strength and endurance, Duteraninkunga weavers craft baskets larger than most weavers have ever made in their whole lives![/highlight]

CPEFO Amizero Cooperative

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The three young artisans of CPEFO Amizero have two main things in common. The first is their background of poverty and struggle. As youth, Sixbert, Media and Clementine were orphaned and became heads of their households, caring for younger siblings and elders. But the members of this small cooperative also hold something else in common: [highlight]Together, we are determined to use our craft for income and the betterment of our families.[/highlight]

AVEKI Widows’ Cooperative

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The members of AVEKI Widows’ Cooperative meet weekly to weave natural sisal fibers into beautiful baskets and household items. With their craft, the women are fighting against poverty and developing their families without having to always have to ask for financial help from others. With the fair wage income from their weaving, they have been able to buy annual medical insurance for their families. [highlight] We hope that in the future, each member will be able to own a cow and to pay school fees for her children.[/highlight]

Agaseke k’Amahoro Cooperative

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The artisans of Agaseke k’Amahoro weave Traditional Grass Peace Baskets. The cooperative, born from the turmoil of the genocide, is comprised of neighbors from both sides of the conflict, working together for peace and reconciliation. Their vision is to promote peace within and outside their group as they practice their art for their livelihood. [highlight]“We must continue to work for wholeness.
We must continue to pray for peace.”
- Pascasie Mukamuligo, President[/highlight]

Abumurava Cooperative

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Abumurava’s vision is to work together in order that the members may develop themselves, increase their standard of living, and reduce their financial dependence on others. Through Azizi Life's nonprofit organization, the members have chosen to buy stoves which use less firewood. The weavers of Abumurava hope one day to have a cooperative house and a plantation of sisal for weaving. [highlight]We welcome visitors for Experience days and like to share our skills in weaving sisal fibers.[/highlight]

Abibumbye Cooperative

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This group of over 20 women work together as a family to support each other and develop their skills. Since working with Azizi Life they have been able to buy annual health insurance and pay the school fees for their children. [highlight]We hope to gain income that will help us to maintain better lives and say goodbye to poverty forever.[/highlight]

Abahuje Cooperative in Byimana

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The women of Abahuje Cooperative are aiming to be the best weavers they can be by always improving the quality of the bowls they create. Several members of the group have already made improvements to their homes by installing electricity, solar lamps, new wood stoves, etc, and the group now hopes to construct a small building for their cooperative.[highlight]We are a group of women who are improving our homes through selling our woven bowls through Azizi Life.[/highlight]