OUR PARTNERS
United States Agency for International Development
USAID
— Rwanda mission for USAID provided $99,000 grant to
purchase the 600+ knitting machines and accessories and fund technical
and business training for over 1,200 low-income Rwandan women.
Business Council for Peace
BPeace
assists women business owners in conflict and post-conflict countries.
Its primary countries of activity are Afghanistan and Rwanda. BPeace
partners with Rwanda Knits to provide business training to the
17 cooperatives services by Rwanda Knits and expand its success
to other artisan groups. Cari Clement is a member of BPeace.
Rwanda Community Works (RCW)
www.rwandacommunityworks.org
This new non-profit trading company’s mission is to create jobs for craftspeople in Rwanda through exports to the US. It’s CEO, Josh Ruxin, is the former Director of Millennium Villages in Rwanda and a well-known US supporter of sustainable businesses in the developing world. Rwanda Knits’ first project (late 2008) for RCW was 1,000 scarves for the Whitney Port Collection.
United Nations Development Fund for Women
www.unifem.org
UNIFEM has partnered with Rwanda Knits to provide facilities and
funding for the May 2006 business training for representatives
of the 17 cooperatives.
Caron International
www.caron.com
Caron is a yarn manufacturer and manufacturer of the knitting machines
used in Rwanda. The company has also donated machines, time, and
yarn. Clement sold her company, Bond America, formerly a manufacturer
of the knitting machines, to Caron early 2003. Caron supports the
Rwanda Knits project through Clement's time and in other ways.
Senator Patrick Leahy
leahy.senate.gov
Senator Leahy's office has been a supporter of the Rwanda Knits
project from its inception.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
www.unhcr.org
UNHCR was the initial recipient of 60 knitting machines and training
and was instrumental in encouraging the expansion of the project.
USA for UNHCR
www.usaforunhcr.org
USA funding organization for UNHCR that responded to initial letter
of offer from Clement to donate 60 knitting machines and training
to support a women's economic cooperative anywhere in the world.
Through UNHCR, Rwanda was the first country to reply.
Made For Peace
www.madeforpeace.com
Anne Kellett, who has traveled with Clement to Rwanda and has assisted
in training the knitters, established this site for those who wanted
to purchase knitted items made by the Rwanda Knits cooperatives.
The Amber Chand Collection
www.amberchand.com
Online retailer selling products made by fair trade economic collectives
around the world. Will be selling scarves made by the Rwanda Knits
knitters.
Aid to Artisans
www.aidtoartisans.org
FACED received a $2,000 grant from Aid to Artisans in 2004. This
funded the purchase of 26 knitting machines that were shipped with
the USAID machines. 26 knitting machines would provide an income
for nearly 60 women in rural Rwanda.
Millenium Villages
www.milleniumvillages.org
In 2007, Millennium Villages ordered 40 knitting machines for 80 women in Myange, Rwanda and in early 2008, they became the newest members of the Rwanda Knits family. MV is a partnership of Columbia University, Jeffrey Sachs and the United Nations with a mission to create 100% sustainable villages in developing countries.
Dining for Women
www.diningforwomen.org
Rwanda Knits is proud to be accepted as one of Dining for Women's supported programs, starting December, 2008. Dining for Women's website states: "Changing the world one dinner at a time." DFW empowers women living in extreme poverty by funding programs fostering good health, education, and economic self-sufficiency, and cultivates educational dinner circles inspiring individuals to make a difference through the power of collective giving.
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