Rwanda Knits Auction 2008!

Mark the dates: October 16-26, 2008, for the third annual Rwanda Knits auction of Star Sweaters and other famous knit and crochet designs! Return here during the auction dates and you can click through to the live auction.

Go To the Auction!

Our Progress

Read about our progress!

Pacifica Radio (NPR), Full Circle Program

On April 6 at 7:00 pm Pacific time (10 pm DST), Pacifica Radio KPFA (an NPR affiliate station) in Berkeley, CA broadcasted an 11-minute segment about the Rwanda Knits project on their show, Full Circle. The show, inspired by the UMass Magazine article, was hosted by Donna Bellorado who interviews me about the project and includes an interview with Rwanda Knits' project manager, Geofrey Katushabe and two of the Rwanda Knits' teachers, Esperance Nyirarusimbe and Furaha Mukamusoni, who joined us from Kigali, Rwanda. This segment was especially relevant airing in April, the 13th anniversary of the 1994 Genocide. You can listen to it by clicking on their archived shows.

Rwanda Knits Receives Grant

After a year of grant writing, Rwanda Knits receives $99,000 grant to support knitting cooperatives in Rwanda. More...

Rwanda Knitting Mission a Huge Success!

Rwanda Knits trains over 100 refugees for economic self-sufficiency in cooperation with top government officials. More...

Scarves for Peace

Mohair scarves knitted by Congalese refugees in Rwanda make it to the Grammys. More...

THE RWANDA KNITS PROJECT

RWANDA KNITS provides hand-operated, American-made knitting machines, technical, and business training to low-income Rwandan women. Our program enables them to increase their incomes through economically sustainable knitting cooperatives, through which they produce garments for their domestic market and export markets.

Through a USAID grant to our sister Rwanda-based NGO, Rwandans Allied for Peace and Progress, Rwanda Knits has enabled over 1,200 women to earn a living through making and selling their knitted goods. The organization has provided over 600 knitting machines and training to women in 17 associations throughout the country. The project has been described as one of USAID Rwanda's most successful income-producing projects. Today these associations have formed 29 knitting cooperatives who are registering as primary cooperatives, soon to be forming the country's first Secondary (umbrella-type) Artisan Cooperative.

For women with limited skills, education and virtually no income, Rwanda Knits has created new hope for them — and you can be a part by making a tax deductible donation today!

Current Project — Creating New Businesses for Women in Rwanda

School Uniform Sweaters Project

Over 1,200 knitters have been trained by Rwanda Knits' six traveling teachers using yarn donated by Caron International. Since their training in the spring and summer of 2006, orders of over 3,000 sweaters for school uniforms, soccer team hats, gorilla tracker hats (to sell to tourists), and items have been secured.

Rwanda Knits and FA-CED have secured a yarn manufacturer in Turkey who will produce a high quality acrylic yarn (required for knitting school sweaters) at a very good price. While a donor has funded a small initial purchase of yarn, to fill current orders of over 3,000 sweaters, the knitters need nearly 1,000 pounds of yarn, more than the initial order, so they need your help!
In May of 2007, Rwanda Knits received a donation that enabled it to purchase enough yarn to fill orders for over 1,200 of the sweaters. For women used to earning less than $1 per day, knitting these sweaters will earn the women more than four times the rural income level for women PLUS giving their cooperatives a good profit, which will be used to improve their centers and purchase more yarn.

However, before the knitters can fill their orders, per a new Rwanda law, each of the 17 knitting groups Rwanda Knits serves must register as a for-profit cooperative. Doing this is, in essence, building a new business from the ground up. To be profitable, the groups need assistance and training. In June, Rwanda Knits identified government-approved trainers to help the groups through this process and ensure they register as official cooperatives, but doing this takes money.

Grant Status

From June 2005 through June 2007, Rwanda Knits was funded by a grant from USAID (US Agency for International Development), which funded the purchase of the knitting machines, the technical training and administration costs. In June 2007 Rwanda Knits met with USADF (US Africa Development Foundation) and is very optimistic that it will be able to receive funding from them in about a year, however Rwanda Knits ongoing programs need funding to span the gap between grants.

You can help Rwanda Knits bridge the funding gap and so the knitters can receive the training to build their businesses - and feed their families - by making a donation to Rwanda Knits today! Just click on DONATE and send what you can.

The Organization

Rwanda Knits is part of the Centers for Social Responsibility (CSR), a registered 501c3 nonprofit corporation. All contributions are tax deductible.

Make a donation to Rwanda Knits.

Business Training

In May, 2006, the partnership of RAP/Rwanda Knits, the Business Council for Peace (BPeace) and UNIFEM organized a business training seminar for representatives of each of the 17 recipient groups. This was to assist them in becoming sustainable businesses pursuant to a government mandate that all associations become income-generating cooperatives.