Weaving Together Broken Communities

 An elevation change of over 1200 feet may seem like a lot. In the hills of Rwanda, large elevation differences from the floor of the so-called valley to the top of the hills are normal. When I traveled just outside of Kigali to see one of the cooperative members from Komera my car with a little effort climbed the winding road to the top of the hill. After finally arriving at Jolly's house we asked her about the hills we had just climbed. She then shared briefly how before being a part of the cooperative she and her family had to walk down to the valley to fetch water. This trip was about 5 kilometers just in distance not to mention the climb in elevation. Over time the government put multiple wells on the hills leading up to their house but they were all still more than a kilometer from their house. Jolly with the money she received from her work at the cooperative was able to put a spicket in her family's compound. Now instead of a steep climb to get water, it's only a fe

Rwanda is a country that continues to develop and become one of the fastest-growing economies. Rwanda has specific laws regarding gender equality and rights for women. This is good, but how does the country's development impact women? Members of the artisan cooperative encouraged me to start at the source of their cooperative. I visited the specific building and market for gitenge fabric. Many of the shopkeepers were women. In the last couple of years, things have drastically changed in this area. Previously those who had shops in this building paid for rent and some minor taxes. Much of the transactions that happened here were happening in the informal economy. Buyers would come and haggle over wholesale fabric prices with the shopkeepers. No receipts were given, and most records were kept on paper. If they needed to report the sales, shopkeepers would report much lower than what they actually earned. Shopkeepers were not necessarily avoiding paying taxes, but it was something not

     The women involved in the artisan cooperatives in Rwanda have experienced various changes from their participation in the cooperatives. Compelling stories of changes in diet, finances, family dynamics, community, concerns, daily life, future goals, and change in self emerged as themes regarding empowerment of women participants in artisan cooperatives. The participatory rural appraisal techniques provided an environment to capture responses in community.  The use of these techniques along with focus groups and interviews allowed me to capture the changes the women have experienced. My photos document both their participation in the activities and their daily work. Changes in Diet      Being a part of a cooperative and having a more stable income allowed many women to experience the typical three meals a day. Some of the cooperatives provided morning tea or lunch for those working. Such changes gave the women even greater courage to try other foods they previously avoided buying. W