Return to Rwanda

Posted by Andrea Shared Interest Foundation

June 18, 2009

Well here I am back in Rwanda, seeing the final stage of our first year of training come to life; and what a year it has been.

We – Shared Interest Foundation and COFTA (Cooperation for Fair Trade in Africa) thanks to the Big Lottery Fund – have trained 60 participants from 30 organisations throughout Rwanda in business and financial skills, marketing and environmental awareness.

So now I’m here exactly one year on to evaluate the first year of training, to assess the successes and challenges and to plan for the next two years.

Over the past year alone, we have recruited a project coordinator, set up an in-country office, built partnerships with local bodies such as REDO, Rural Environmental Development Organisation (who we have contracted to carry out the environmental component of the project for us) and RPSF, Rwandan Private Sector Federation, who are very kindly hosting our project coordinator in their office.

We have also trained 17 trainers in key skills needed in order to ensure this project is a success. They have undergone intensive seven month training programmes and on Saturday they will all be fully certified in training of trainers and business counselling skills.

These 17 trainers have worked tirelessly and been empowered to create their own manual to go on to train our 30 organisations. They have ownership of the manual and it is specific to the needs of Rwandan craft makers.

Over the next few days I will be sharing some of the progress made and giving real insight into the businesses we are working with.