Blog Archive
Small Incremental Change – The Path to Sustainable Change
We believe that small, incremental change is a strong indicator of sustainable change. Our team is proud of all the hard work we have contributed to making a difference in the lives of the women we work with.
Flashback to Memory Lane
Switching from wooden ovens to electric ovens at our Kigali Bakery was a game changer, but as a Rwandan proverb says, “If you don’t remember where you came from, you will never know where you are going.”
Opening & Launching the TWB Café Shop and Flagship Bakery
We have come from so far, and each small step has set us forward.
Zoomed in on Gicumbi
In 2018, TWB is focusing on Gicumbi as our next training and bakery launch site. Our preparations are on a good track, including developing the training schedule, partner relationships, and interview process for the participants. We will be launching the training for this group on April 23rd.
It's Going to Go Big
It is not just bread rising in the bakery; it is community and empowerment.
Our Days Are Filled with Problems to Be Fixed
The simple, most important lesson I have learned in Rwanda is that our days are filled with barriers, but almost every barrier also has a solution. Every day, multiple times a day, we need to craft solutions to meet the challenges, regulations, and broken systems that we face.
From Scratch: Our Flagship Story
Building something from scratch takes work. It takes grit. It takes passion and endurance. But those are things that the staff at The Women’s Bakery embodies well.
Education & Nutrition are the Keys to Life
We will keep nutrition at the core of what we do so that through education and nutrition, healthy opportunities can abound.
What does progress look like?
We believe in our mission. We listen. We learn from our mistakes. We remain committed to what we know can work.
Incorporating New Technology – Bakery Growth Pains & Gains
One of the most exciting, and challenging, new adjustments to the bakery production in Kigali is the use of technical baking equipment, including electric mixers and a three-deck gas oven.
Harvard's 19th Annual Social Enterprise Conference
Social enterprise celebrates multiple bottom-lines and I am grateful to be a part of a company that is pushing this possibility forward.
A Proud Walk
“ Then… now we are just getting started,” one of the women said as she reflected on how far TWB has come. Indeed, we are just getting started.
TWB Rwanda's 2nd Annual Team Retreat
The main purpose of the retreat was to review how 2017 went what we want 2018 to look like. This was achieved through presentations on organizational culture, alignment, project reports, and updates on marketing plans, curriculum updates, and model adaptations.
Markey's Ted Talk Now Available for Streaming
Last year, in October, Markey delivered a Ted Talk as part of TedxGateway Arch in St. Louis. In her talk, Markey shared about her story in launching The Women's Bakery and also, how we can all reimagine the power of bread.
Education Never Ends
At TWB, we believe that education is an endless process. We always learn to improve and that is why we developed the Nutrition Extension in the first place: so that we can remind our women that their and their child’s health matter.
Happiness Through Bread
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.
BOM Training Program
The BOM Training Program will equip our current and future BOMs to sharpen their management skills, master the ins and outs of a TWB bakery, analyze conflict resolution strategies and learn how to lead- with passion, grit and humility.
Permagardens & Peanut Butter
If there is anything I have learned about my experience working at TWB it is that women’s empowerment and education can be used to combat food insecurity and malnutrition in the home.
Slice of Hope: St. Louis, MO
On Tuesday, 90 St. Louisians gathered to celebrate this year’s success and learn more about our plans for 2018. Every member of The Women’s Bakery family is special and on Tuesday we had the opportunity to offer our thanks to a group of individuals who have supported our work since it was a mere idea.
Twists That Make Change
That’s what the women in Remera call them: the pretzels.