Day 4: Twirererabana, Abishyizehamwe, Baho, & Urumuri

Friday, August 2nd - North of Kigali, Rwanda

Twirererabana Cooperative

Written by Don Jack, WD4H Advisor

Today we headed two hours north from Kigali to visit four cooperatives. Although there had been a prediction for rain today, there had been only tiny droplets by the time that we left the hotel. As we left the city, we began to follow a lush river valley with a patchwork of small green fields displaying a wide variety of crops. Their lushness gave testimony to the rich soil and ample water in the valley. Large white herons or egrets and other large birds could be spotted here and there in the verdant landscape.

Our first scheduled stop was the Twirererabana ( “Let Us Raise Our Kids” ) Cooperative that was formed by unwed mothers who had been rejected by both the fathers of their children and by their families. Often the pregnancies were the result of brief unions that were desperate attempts at survival by impoverished women to obtain money and other resources. To reach the cooperative we left the paved highway in the valley on an unpaved road that took us up to a ridge top and then continued for several miles to the village where the co-operative is located.

When our bus arrived it didn’t take long for us to exit and join in the drumming, dancing and singing that was already underway. Much of the dancing was characterized with the gentle movement of outstretched arms as if we were ready to soar even higher above the high plateau as everyone’s feet moved to the rhythm of the drums. Occasionally the intensity of the dancing intensified as our legs and those of our host partners launched us upward in dancing pairs.

Soon we moved to a terraced lawn that was to be the site of the formal ceremonies. After we had been seated for only one or two minutes many of the local attendees began running back toward the shelter of the small town. The reason soon became apparent as a downpour began and everyone rapidly found themselves huddling under the overhangs at the front of the small stores. How better to use the delay provided by the heavy rain than to resume the dancing, drumming and song! For at least half an hour one of our hosts called out the name of a song in Kinyarwanda and then started clapping to establish the beat so that everyone could join in. The songs were typically call and response with the song leader calling out a phrase and the dancing crowd responding. It was with Tuzarwubaka ("We will rebuild Rwanda") that our group could fully join in since by now the lyrics in Kinyarwanda have become quite familiar.

After the rain subsided we returned to the terraced lawn. Today was a national day of thanksgiving in Rwanda and in front of our arc of chairs was a cornucopia of cabbage, maize and sorghum stalks. Two local officials spoke to the gathered crowd to talk about how it was only now after a long history of colonial occupation and violence that a day of thanksgiving could be celebrated by the Rwandan people.

Oliva, the President of Twirererabana, looking very elegant in a dark satin dress with gold trim and a carefully draped scarf, even before she began to speak conveyed newfound confidence and optimism that the cooperative had brought to its members. Her message was one of thanks to Janet and World Dance for all that they have done. Janet responded with how proud she was of these courageous women and all that they have accomplished, including the successful operation of the Dignity Cafe which we were to visit later. She also talked about our own Thanksgiving holiday traditions.

After the speeches the entertainment resumed. Choreographed dancing by groups of traditional Rwandan dancers ("Intore") was enjoyed by all. We were also treated to cubes of a sorghum cake that is a local food and two members of our group even sampled a sorghum fermented beverage much to the delight of the crowd. We wrapped up the Thanksgiving celebration with more dancing and then headed for the Dignity Cafe.

Rwandans believe that when rain follows shortly after the arrival of visitors it is a sign of good luck. It certainly was a propitious start to our visits for the day.

~

Abishyizehamwe, Baho, & Urumuri Cooperatives

Written by Amy Cluck, World Dancer

After the downpour, we arrived at Abishyizahamwe ("United People") Cooperative, into the arms of welcoming women dancing and singing. The leaders guided us through a tour of their bakery (whose start-up funds were generously donated by Michelle Joanou). Earthen circular structures held huge wok-like vats where ball shaped beignets fried over open fires.  In a nearby oven that resembled a primitive pizza oven, large rounds loaves of bread baked.  To check their readiness, the baker flashed the light on his cell phone, a clash of century-old design with modern technology.

From there we proceeded outdoors to dance and sing, then sat as the president of Abishyizehamwe, Devota, spoke to us (through our intrepid local leader and interpreter Justin) about how the bakery has allowed this rural group of people at the tip of the mountain to secure a path toward independence. These women make up one of the veteran co-ops, who are about to “graduate” from our program. This means that they are now able to sustain their business and have become role models for newer cooperatives.

Two of our newest co-ops, Urumrui ("Light") and Baho ("Live"), joined us this year and presented their model, their hopes and aspirations.  Baho plans to expand their farming business and will need livestock for fertilizer. Janet inquired about their students to find that very few go to high school.  As the WD4H leader, she offered to sponsor unique and inspired young students, to the delight of all. 

Next, an impressive young man, Jean Baptiste (Vice President of Umumuri), presented their business proposal and budget for a pineapple/passion fruit juice endeavor.  When Janet asked him about his background, the 27-year-old said he had finished high school but no college, a notion that was so distant to him; it didn’t even qualify as a dream. To everyone’s amazement, one of our travelers, Joanne, recognizing Jean Baptiste’s potential, offered to sponsor his 4 years of college. This spontaneous overture at a site visit was a first in the 6 year history of WD4H in Rwanda! The grateful young man, overcome with joy, fell to the ground to give thanks, his astonished expression enlightened by a promising future.

The President of the co-op, Marie, began the venture by providing low-interest loans to members and saving the income.  With this money, she was able to start a rudimentary juice business. At this time, they need about $2,500 to expand the enterprise for equipment and space.  Marie explained that she chose the co-op's name “not just to be the light within themselves but to be the light for each other." Community!

Letters for students from sponsors were then handed out.  Two of our travelers, Arlene and Erin, had the unique opportunity to meet the young people whose lives they’ve changed to both the sponsors and students delight. 

Travelers and co-op members ate a meal of potatoes, beans, and meat together in gratitude and family community. Sharing a meal in harmony.

Later, we presented 20 female goats to 20 families who tonight have a new member of their household. These goats will bring them fertilizer for crops, babies to sell for profit, and most importantly, the dignity of being a true farmer by owning livestock. 

We left amidst dance and song, hugs and good wishes.  The ongoing support of donors who sponsor students education fees, contribute new business start up funds and provide livestock have given the people of all of our cooperatives hope of an independent and sustainable future.  Join us!

Thoughts from the travelers:

Jayne Johann: I’ve been so excited to meet the goats that I donated in honor of my aunt and uncle. So today when I heard them bleating it was hard not to just run and find them. I thought we would just pick random goats and name them. When I saw that Dany and Chantal made name tags for the goats, I was so tickled - I couldn’t believe they would do that for us! I love  both of those goats now and I know they are the beginning of a transformation for a family that will likely impact generations to come. I was so happy and little goat Gwen is so sweet -she loved it when I scratched her under her chin! I asked Justin if the people in the village thought we were crazy naming our goats. He just laughed-  I already knew the answer

Erin Parks: Every day since I arrived in Rwanda on July 29th, I’ve hoped and prayed that it would be the day the I could meet the student, Francine, who my daughter, Avalon, and I, are sponsoring in high school this year. There were no promises we would meet - just crossed fingers.

Today, I was caught completely off guard when Janet pulled out my letter to Francine at the Abishyizehamwe Cooperative. I was nothing short of ecstatic when her name was called. We came together in the most heartfelt hug, struggling to remain standing as we held on to each other and swayed with the rarest joy of meeting a beloved living on the other side of the world. It was a dream come true for both of us. We held hands, remained wrapped in each other’s arms, took pictures, I shared pics of Avalon, and talked as much as two people can with little knowledge of each other’s languages.

Francine and I posed for pictures together and with the two mama goats that I donated to the Baho cooperative for Father’s Day in honor of my father, Thomas Parks, and my love, Garret Schwan, naming them after their mothers: California Parks (my Spicey Grandmother) and Alvina Schwan.

We spent as much time together as we could before we said one last goodbye and I boarded the bus to return to Kigali. I told Francine that she was beautiful, smart, and kind; and repeated how much she was loved. I am proud of her and promised that I would pay for her college education and encouraged her to do well in school. She told me she would not fail.

I’ve consistently marveled at the clever, strong, and confident women that lead the co-ops that we visited. I envision Francine leading her people toward a bright and sustainable future. Thank you WD4H for giving me the opportunity to make a real difference in a young woman’s life. An opportunity that is a bigger gift to me than to Francine.