Imagine

The first thing I saw was turquoise – bright, vivid, imaginative. I walked a little further, stuck between wanting to gallivant forward and taking my time as I approached the bakery – our bakery.

Fully inside, I could see everything that I had been seeing via photographs for the last year; I saw the decorative plants, the plush bean bags, and swings – yes, swings – that fused together to create a space of relaxation and peace.

Most importantly, I saw one of our bakers, Liziki, exit from the back part of the bakery, leaping to give us greetings and hugs.

We had arrived at KG 176 #13 – The Women’s Bakery Flagship Bakery in Kigali.

I remember when this was an idea tossed around a few years ago; what if we had a training center and a bakery in one place? What if we could have one location that would be a model for future locations?

Now, the idea is a reality and I am sitting in a bakery café – a Women’s Bakery café – that is operated by over 10 women that have been with us for several years. Again, as it always is with this work, I am in awe of what all of us, especially women, are capable of.

I am proud to be a team member of an organization that pushes forth the kind of work that blends both business and social impact for women.

I am inspired to see the growth of an idea into a reality – one that not only enables women to have gainful, sustainable employment, but also brings unique products to market (I mean, who doesn’t love avocado frosting?)

And mostly, I am humbled by what is possible.

In the last 3 years with The Women’s Bakery I have learned the power of asking questions and of imagining something beyond what I can conceive.

I couldn’t even begin to imagine that this would be what our flagship was like. We have our offices next to our industrial ovens. We have the production space lined with clean, high-quality tiles. We are running a business and we are kicking ass.

That is really what bread power is all about and I am beyond grateful to witness it and experience it in person.

To all of my team members at TWB: keep rising, keep going. This is truly only the beginning.

The Proof is in the Women

The last few months at TWB Rwanda have flown by, full of successes and challenges both large and small. When asked about our model and what we are achieving, most interested listeners get it – women are benefiting from vocational education and sustainable employment, communities are benefiting from affordable access to nutritious breads, and economies are benefiting from TWB’s local sourcing and local sales.

Visible progress is sometimes slow, but it’s there. You need only look at a simple photo journey following our Kigali bakery group from training, to their first bakery location, then on to the second, and now finally to the Flagship Café, to SEE how much we have grown and accomplished since 2015. And that is only one of our four operating bakeries in Rwanda, with our fifth cohort midway through training and getting ready for bakery launch in June!

Starting with just a framework of ideas and a big vision in 2015, TWB has successfully employed over 40 Rwandans in our network bakeries and headquarter offices, and we continue to grow.

It is therefore surprising when some people don’t get it. Take one government official who asked if our bread was sold in the major grocery stores of Kigali (where, by the way, it would not be remotely affordable). Upon hearing that we sell most of our bread in the local markets (where, by the way, it is highly affordable) he proclaimed that we are clearly not a successful business and don’t belong here. Or, another official who, in response to our queries about tax breaks for small enterprises and social businesses, said we should just export our goods in order to succeed … that would defeat the purpose of improving local nutrition by making affordable products accessible to the base of the market pyramid (and it’s fresh bread?) but nevermind. Not everyone gets it. However, TWB is not deterred.

The proof is in the bread, and in the women, and in our team. Our newly opened Flagship in Kigali is the perfect example of what we can achieve with a dedicated team, some sweat and tears, and the motivation of empowering and sustainably employing women.

#strongwomenbakingbread #breadpower #cantstopwontstop

A TWB PHOTO STORY: FROM 2015 TO NOW

Training in Remera, 2015. 

Baking with our old oven during training, 2015. 

The first site for TWB's Kigali Bakery, 2016.

Operations and sales at the Kigali Bakery, 2016.

Building the TWB Brand: Strong Women Baking Bread, 2017. 

Baking at our new flagship bakery (with new ovens!), 2018

Morning production in the kitchen, 2018. 

Soft launch of the new flagship bakery with Fran, our Marketing and Bakery Operations Coordinator, 2018. 

Happiness Through Bread

Written by Francoise Umutoniwase, Marketing Intern in Kigali

At The Women’s Bakery, a byproduct of our work that I have seen is a word that though commonly used, still holds a lot of meaning.

Happiness.

Happiness comes when you feel satisfied and fulfilled.

How, you may ask, does TWB’s work enable this?

I’m delighted to share.

First, we make bread with local ingredients. There is no need to import raw materials. Because of this, we are creating a product that suppliers and customers alike are pleased with – it is locally sourced, and locally supplied. This generates a greater interest in what we do – ultimately spreading more and more #breadpower.

Second, we make highly nutritious bread (different from what is typically offered on the market) whereby the communities in which we work are excited (and interested) to consume our products. Often, I have seen many of our consumers become more enthused as we have developed more unique products. An example of this has been when we first introduced pretzels to our product line – our customers loved them and it became something for them to look forward to.

Third, and perhaps most importantly, our work environment exudes a culture of happiness. In integrating education, health, and employment together, we are able to work with a powerful group of women who are earning an income to make an impact in their life. Thus, our bakery is more than just a bakery – it’s a place where women come and do good, powerful work.

It’s not easy every day. The work can be difficult and the challenges that our women face are complex and real.

However, the commitment we have is the strength of The Women’s Bakery.

This generates bread power, where bread can effect positive changes in the lives of many. I see happiness in many of the aspects of our work – even with the challenges – and that continues to motivate me each and every day.

Together we rise.