Why Bread for Breakfast?

No matter where you are in the world, most families take breakfast in the morning.

However, it is not just that they take breakfast, but it is also interesting to know the types of foods that are prepared. Eating breakfast provides energy for your body and gives you drive for the day. Without an adequate breakfast, you are likely to feel inactive and tired throughout the day. By eating a healthful, nutritious breakfast, you are providing your body with important nutrients as well as the energy it needs to perform at its best during the day.

In particular, a breakfast high in fiber and protein can keep you full for longer and prevent tiredness throughout the day.  Eating breakfast has also been shown to improve concentration, meaning you are likely to work more efficiently. However some people still think that a healthful breakfast is expensive and that it is only for rich people. 

Here is the good news - when you take TWB breads for breakfast you are assured that you have eaten a healthful breakfast option. TWB breads are nutritious breads, made using locally available products, and are sold at an affordable price. So stop worrying about where you can get nutritious bread and go to the nearest TWB bakery!  #breadpower

TWB's Pilot Campus Chapter

Written by Alayna Davis, TWB A&M's Chapter President

Last spring, The Women’s Bakery launched our pilot campus chapter at Texas A&M University. We started off as a small group of officers, brainstorming what a TWB campus chapter would look like. We are now a thriving organization with over 40 members who love and believe in The Women’s Bakery’s mission and vision!

As a campus chapter, our goals are to raise awareness and funds for The Women’s Bakery as well as to educate Texas A&M students and our community about topics such as women’s empowerment and social enterprise.

Our Finance Officer, Kelyn, gave an update on our chapter’s work so far, “To date, we have put on internal group events and completed two separate fundraisers, as well as begun working to plan a large scale program for the spring.”

Our internal events consist of socials, put on by our Social Officer, Natalie, as well as our meetings planned and run by our Education Officer, Colton. At these meetings we have discussed topics such as Rwandan and Tanzanian Culture and Women’s Empowerment.

At another one of our meetings, Colton conducted an interview via Skype with Heather Newell. Colton described his experience: “I had the privilege of interviewing Heather... It was so fascinating and informative getting to hear from someone that has been with TWB from its early stages and has watched it progress over the years.”

Our Vice Chair, CJ, has done a great job facilitating our biweekly officer meeting and says that, “The officers have done an incredible job at creating a welcoming environment for our members and a tangible spirit of unity throughout the organization.” After just a few months as a campus organization, we are already making an impact on campus.

We have had two articles published on campus about our work and have generated a lot of support via social media. We have also made a personal impact on our members. Our Marketing Officer, Madi, describes the effect that The Women’s Bakery has had on her, “The Women’s Bakery has been so much more than something to throw onto my resume. I have learned about other cultures around the world, other people at my own university, about what feminism means to others, and I’ve even learned a bit about myself… The Women’s Bakery has been very eye-opening for me.”

Our Campus Engagement Officers Samira and Ashlie “anticipate an upcoming semester filled with even more events that are informative, meaningful, and fun! All of our members are very excited to be working on programs that will educate the Bryan/College Station area on women's empowerment and the work of The Women's Bakery.”

We also foresee our already large membership growing even bigger as many students have contacted us in hopes of joining us next semester. TWB A&M is off to a fantastic start and all of our officers and members feel so fortunate to have the chance to play a role in this exciting new development for TWB. 

"If You Look, You Will Go Far"

“If you look far you will go far”

As a woman who has experienced empowerment myself, working with women who need to be empowered is my dream. The opportunity to work with The Women’s Bakery in Rwanda has been truly incredible, and I am able to take part in my dream job..

In the course of working as the Bakery Operations Manager at the TWB bakery in Remera, Kigali, I have been questioning how I could contribute more to grow the ability of TWB women.

One day, when we were in a meeting, I came up with an idea. I asked the women what they thought of taking 200 FRW ($0.26) per woman out of their daily salaries for savings.

They said, “That’s a good idea, why not let’s do it!”

They have already started to save money, which will help them to pay for Mutuelle, the national health insurance, for next year (TWB has already ensured the women all have health insurance for themselves and their families for the current year) and which can also help them to grow their business in the coming year.

This process to create a savings plan is one of my most valued experiences from the past eight months with TWB. On the part of the women, they have improved life for their families, they feel independent, and their new skill sets are evidence of good future prospects.

Many women have a dream of seeing their bakery grow and to eventually be well-known everywhere. I am excited to be part of TWB Rwanda and I will keep learning a lot about our great work, and learn more in my position as Bakery Operations Manager to further grow the Remera Bakery.

Our women are so committed - let's give them our hands, and together we will rise. 

Achieving Goals!

After six months interning with TWB I am now a full-time staff member working as the Store Manger for our Remera bakery. Over the last few months, I have come to appreciate TWB’s commitment to working efficiently and cohesively. It is clear that this is an environment where each member of the team is encouraged. As a team member each person is expected to bring new ideas and present new ideas and opportunities to grow. In return, those ideas are reviewed and everyone works together to develop and implement them in the most effective ways. What else could I ask for, being young and rising with a start up where my voice is heard, and where I am given the right directions to enhance my career?!

Upon first learning about the goals of The Women’s Bakery and the work they are doing to reach those goals, I have wanted to work with TWB. At first I was not sure if I was contributing enough. The only way to know that I was being successful was by seeing positive results and the appreciation of my teammates.

The work we do will not mean much to the community if improvements do not start within our group and our neighbors. It is always very rewarding to learn the progress our women have made since they joined TWB, having improved the standard of living and their life in their families.

Not only have they acquired new skills, but they have also acquired independence and that is evidence of a good, brilliant promising future. Our women hope to achieve their dreams through their bakery and that this will grow to be famous everywhere. They also hope to someday train other women in the same way they were trained by TWB. Our women are so committed and self-determined to secure long awaited growth, not just for themselves but for their families and this country.