Growing Together

I have now worked for one year with The Women’s Bakery and it’s been a pleasure to work with this lovely team of professionals.

TWB is a good working environment where you can develop your skills and knowledge. As for me, I got to know many things through TWB. I would say for example, that I got management skills by working with different kinds of women with different personalities. This gave me knowledge in how to manage whatever comes my way.

Ever since I started working with TWB, I saw how TWB takes part in the growth of Rwanda by empowering women. So, I decided to develop my own working team spirit whereby whatever I think that can grow within TWB, I bring it to the table to be discussed. It is incredible that I may get to play my role in the growth of my country as well.

Travelling to different areas within the country and outside the country gave me an experience of how women work from all angles, not only Rwandan women but also women in varying backgrounds and environments. Visiting other sites and bakeries has been a big part of my job and it’s helped develop my skills in all aspects of my career and growth.

I am very glad to be part of TWB and will continue to think and do whatever it takes to make our organization grow faster. We are working to sustain profitable, successful bakeries and I am honored to do my part.

Romania Trip

What does Romania have in common with Rwanda?

For one: Romania also has bakeries!

One bakery in particular, MamaPan Bakery, is tackling social challenges with a similar model to The Women’s Bakery.

In December Julie and Meg made a stop in Bucharest, Romania on their way home to the U.S. for the holidays. This trip was initiated thanks to Livia, Director of Programs for MamaPan Bakery, who proposed we visit.

MamaPan Bakery started as an initiative under a non-profit organization, CPE (Partnership for Equality), as an income generating mechanism for the women working in the bakery and a revenue stream for the non-profit itself.

It was uncanny to note how similar MamaPan and The Women’s Bakery in Remera (Rwanda) were. Both organizations have been running for about a year and a half, both employ eight women, both are nearly at profitability, both strive for more healthful bread options, and both are slowly changing the lives of the women who work in the bakeries. While we were there, Livia told us that just that week one of the women who works in the bakery was finally able to get heating in her home. These are the small improvements in livelihood that make a huge difference for the women and their families.

The most important part of our trip was the development of new friendships with a group of women that believe in the same kind of change we believe in. We now know two groups of women in entirely different places working towards the same goals. We can now be each other’s mentors share ideas, consult when the challenges seem great, and help each other build a community of strong women baking bread.

"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.