OUR WORK
We invest in the inherent power of women to change the world for the better
Our social enterprise is built on the belief that when women have access to the opportunities they need to thrive, everyone benefits.
It all starts at our bakeries
In our bakeries, women build professional skills and earn stable incomes as they bake nutritious baked goods for local customers and schoolchildren. From there, the benefits extend to bakers’ families and the broader community.
FOR WOMEN
Stable incomes help women lead the way
Our bakers learn lifelong skills — from baking to business operations — that can help them support their families now and into the future.
Training to unlock new opportunities
Our bakers receive over 200 hours of training. Upon completion, they receive a certificate equivalent to a vocational degree that not only helps them be successful in our bakeries, but can open doors to new opportunities in the future.
Beyond baking and business skills, the training also covers topics like saving money and family planning. The stable incomes our bakers earn mean they can buy or rent homes, pay school fees for their children, and support their extended families.
Benefits for women and their families
We provide quality health insurance and mental health support to all of our bakers and support staff. We also offer on-site and at-home childcare options. This makes it possible for our bakers to spend time earning income for their families while having the peace of mind that their children are close by and cared for.
The confidence to spark lasting change
Women who work at our bakeries say the experience helps them build confidence in their own abilities while also developing new skills. They have used these skills to help grow our enterprise and launch new projects to help their communities.
200+ hours
Women at our bakeries receive professional training they can use to further their careers.
IN HER WORDS
“Learning new skills every day is one of my favorite parts of The Women’s Bakery.”
Claudine, Baker in Gicumbi
FOR CHILDREN
Nourishing snacks help children learn, grow, and thrive
The One Bread Project boosts school attendance and performance near our bakeries and improves student health.
Inspired by our bakers
One Bread Project was created when some of our bakers saw a need in their community: Local schoolchildren didn’t have enough to eat and weren’t consistently attending school.
Our bakers began providing nutritious snacks to help nourish local schoolchildren and sustain them throughout the school day.
Reaching more schoolchildren every year
One Bread Project launched in 2019 and served 463 children a day that year. As more schools and communities near our bakeries have recognized the value of providing nutritious snacks for students, our reach has grown. In the 2024 school year, we served more than 20,000 schoolchildren a day.
Fortified snacks for healthy growth
The snacks we provide are fortified to meet World Food Programme standards, with the protein, fiber, and crucial nutrients children need for growth and development.
Schools that offer our snacks have seen attendance numbers rise and even new enrollment from families seeking better nutrition for their children.
IN THEIR WORDS
“After two weeks of free daily bread distribution, such good news spread out in neighbouring households and schools such that we have noticed an increased number of transfers from near and far schools to our school. … In addition, parents got courage to send their home-retained children to school.”
Headmaster at G.S Meshero, Gicumbi
HOW ONE BREAD PROJECT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
86% reduction in dropouts
Dropout rates at One Bread Project partner schools have plummeted from 4.2% to less than 1%.
65 partner schools
One Bread Project continues to expand through partnerships with rural and urban schools.
100% exam pass rate
In a One Bread Project partner school near our Gicumbi Bakery, every single student recently passed Rwanda’s Primary Level Examination, after a previous failure rate of 15.7%.
FOR COMMUNITIES
Our social enterprise fuels positive change in communities
Our bakeries contribute to local economies and showcase what women can achieve.
Spurring economic growth
Our bakeries support local suppliers and producers, creating a new market for goods and services. They also provide stable incomes to women (and some men), who go on to spend money in their local communities.
A nutritious option for bread and baked goods
All of our products are fortified with protein, fiber, and nutrients and include nutritious local ingredients such as carrots, beets, sweet potatoes, and peanuts.
Women inspire others
The women who work in our bakeries support their families and contribute to their communities. They serve as role models and help others see what women can achieve when they have access and opportunity.
Help us do more
Your support can help us employ more women, nourish more children, and bridge gaps to maintain the steady incomes and benefits we provide.