Gender Equality Training at Gicumbi Bakery

A woman’s livelihood is affected by a variety of aspects, such as income, access to education, and gender norms. At The Women’s Bakery, we lean into this complexity when considering our programs and initiatives.

Gender equality in Rwanda has made incredible strides in recent years. The percentage of women with access to formal financial services was 87% in 2016, a drastic increase from 39% in 2012 (Republic of Rwanda, 2019). This statistic is reflected among strong women baking bread: 100% of bakers in every location feel they have financial-decision making power. In terms of overall confidence, our social impact reports have noted the flourishing confidence of bakers in Kigali and Ruyenzi (with 90% and 100% reporting confidence, respectively). However, in Gicumbi, our newest bakery, there was a clear gap; confidence levels were notably lower.

As a result, and in accordance with our mission to provide comprehensive tools for empowerment, we invited The Paper Crown - a local organization with expertise in Rwandan culture and customs - to the Gicumbi bakery last fall. Bakers and their husbands were welcomed, and together they discussed sexual and reproductive health rights, gender-based violence, and domestic couple relationships. One of the activities centered around domestic chores, which are often assigned disproportionately to women. Couples were tasked to go home and “switch roles” by doing one of their partner’s gender-specific chores, in order to improve understanding and communication. The activity had a lasting impact; when asked what participants learned one husband said he will “Live in harmony with my wife [and] do all domestic work and take care of our children together”. Another baker said she learned that a healthy relationship is based on love and trust.

Family planning and a woman’s decision-making power regarding sexual and reproductive health has been fairly stagnant in Rwanda, according to recent data. In 2012, family planning was only practiced among 53.2% of married women, up less than 2% from 2010 (Republic of Rwanda, 2019). To tackle this, the Paper Crown training emphasized the importance of women taking ownership of their bodies and utilizing local resources for sexual abuse. One baker said, “I have understood it that it is my right to say no, anytime I meet someone who wants to abuse me”. Another baker, when asked how she will apply her knowledge, said she now knows it is her right to speak up when abused, and cited a local assistance center. At the end of the training, many of the participants were eager to share their new knowledge with other women.

These are profound reflections that have the power to bolster confidence and transform communities. At The Women’s Bakery, we believe in investing in women - by increasing incomes, providing irrevocable education, and offering training and conversations such as this. These are all components of our Whole Woman Programming, which we are excited to expand upon and develop in 2020. We are extremely appreciative of Paper Crown Rwanda for working with our bakers in Gicumbi, Newman’s Own Foundation for funding the training, and for donors like you who make this work possible.

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