Post on 21-Feb-2017
Bertrand Ishimwe Azahara G. EspejoMy name is Bertrand, I
live in Kigali and I am 21 years old. My life has been a bumpy ride. I know what it is to be
hungry because there is not enough food for eight
brothers, not being able to go to school because
there is not enough money to pay the school
feet or to hide my feet under the desk because
of not having shoes. I was lucky enough to find people who have helped me along the way, and ,
above all, I’ve learnt how important hard work
is. Now, I wanna help those who need it , I
wanna give back to the community, I wanna
make Rwanda a better place.
My name is Azahara, I am Spanish and I am 27 years old. I have studied Economics and Journalism and a Master in International Development Studies, where I specialized in Development Economics. I first came to Rwanda in 2012 where I carried out a research about the relation between Youth and Microfinance Programs. For the last yeas I’ve been working for a microfinance institution in Mexico and getting knowledge about social entrepreneurship and the development of programs for social impact and innovation. I felt in love with Rwanda once and I believe in the great potential of its people.
THE CONTEXT
The genocide in Rwanda left many families mired in poverty
and struggling to provide basic needs for their children. It destroyed the infrastructure and social fabric, leaving a
lasting impact on communities and creating a host of new
challenges to address. One of the many issues produced by this tragic history is the impact
it has had on the lives of Rwanda’s youngest, most
vulnerable population.
Many children in Rwanda live on the streets without
access to education, food or medical care. Some children
are orphans; others come from poor families who are unable
to provide for their basic needs. Without an education or hope for the future, these children grow up with few
options and often become victims of the cycle of poverty, and the ensuing
structural violence this entails.
OUR GOALS
To ensure that the more than 100 identified
vulnerable children are provided with
education services
To provide the parents of these children with a way to make a living and sustain their own families
To ensure that the 62 identified vulnerable
families are provided with health insurance services
To expand beyond the borders of Rwanda to create a global youth community where young people can share their ideas to make this world a better place.
THE PROJECTS
Sewing Women Project
Agaseke Women Project
Umulinga Men Project
Youth for Youth Project Education for All
Project
Mama Rwanda Project
SEWING WOMEN PROJECT
What is it? !It’s a project through which unemployed women learn sewing techniques in order to produce good quality products with an unique african touch in order to be sold and become their income generating activity.
What have we done so far? !25 women are currently involved in this project. They are being taught by a volunteer expertise who teaches them 2 days per week, 2 hours each day.
Next Steps !• To buy our own sewing machines
(beginning with 13). • To rent a bigger place that would serve
as workshop and exhibition place. • To eventually involve more women in
the project. !
AGASEKE WOMEN PROJECT
What is it? !It’s a project through which unemployed women learn the necessary techniques to make traditional Rwandan baskets, mats and derivatives in order to produce good quality products to be sold and become their income generating activity.
What have we done so far? !17 women are currently involved in this project. They are being taught by a volunteer expertise. Products were exhibited in YEGO Arts Center for sometime until the partnership stopped.
Next Steps !• To increase the number of women involved in the project. • To own a workshop and exhibition place.
UMULINGA MEN PROJECT
What have we done so far? !13 men are currently involved in this project. We’ve produced more than a hundred shoes which are being exhibited in NIYO Arts Gallery.
Next Steps !• To increase the number of men involved in the project. • To diversify the style and kind of shoes we produce. • To improve the quality of the materials used in the making of
the shoes. • To own our own exhibition place.
What is it? !It’s a project through which unemployed men are taught to produce good quality colorful shoes to be sold, becoming their income generating activity.
YOUTH FOR YOUTH PROJECT
What is it? !A community of young members in charge of organizing and carrying out activities with a positive social impact and empower other fellow youth to give the best of themselves in order to make this world a better place. What have we done so far? !• Money fundraised to help 10 poor families paying for health insurance and send two children to back to school. • Weekly discussions and seminars for members and potential new members. • Currently, 36 young members involved in the project. !!Next Steps !• To involve more young members in the project. • To create a global youth network where young people can share their ideas about activities with a positive social impact
and, eventually, exchange programs between countries. • New activities !
• Teaching reading and writing to illiterate women in the countryside. • Developing new ideas for income generating activities for unemployed men and women. • Organizing meetings, english lessons and vocational training for fellow youth who are on the streets. • Visiting orphanages and organizing sport and art activities for children. • Organizing meetings and seminars with genocide committers and victims.
!
MAMA RWANDA PROJECT
What is it? !It’s a club for single mothers dedicated to uncover the difficulties of single motherhood. Single mothers are provided with a place where to share their problems, discuss and give advice to each other in order to make their life better. Irembo Foundation uses the Mama Rwanda project to identify those women suffering from lack of health insurance, unemployment or unable to take their kids to school aiming to provide them with a solution. What have we done so far? !• The club has started to meet wednesdays and sundays from 5 to 6 pm. • List of themes to treat:
• Life stories (reasons for break up, childhood, hardship during marriage, etc.) • Children management • Economic management (savings, expenses, jobs, etc) • Home management • Experiences along single motherhood !
!!!
Next Steps !• To involve more women in the project. • To expand the number of activities. • Find an appropriate place to meet. !
EDUCATION FOR ALL PROJECT
What is it? !It’s a project through which we identified the most vulnerable children whose families can’t afford their education because of economic obstacles (sometimes they are orphans, come from monoparental families or parents don’t have a job). We cover their school fees and school materials. There is a follow up on their results and meetings with their parents concerning they performance.
What have we done so far? !We have managed to send 41 children back to school thanks to foreign donations and the help of the members of the “Youth for youth” project.
Next Steps !• To ensure that the 120 identified vulnerable children are sent back to school. • To provide these children with afternoon activities such as painting and dancing.
THE BUSINESS MODEL
Period 1 (first 5 months) Period 2
• Search and rent of a house that will work as workshop and exhibition place (shop). !
• Purchase of sewing machines and necessary materials. !
• Conditioning and decoration of shop. !
• 5 months vocational training for women and men in the different products production.
!
Sewing/Agaseke Women Project &!Umulinga Men Project
Youth for Youth / Mama Rwanda Project!• Development of new ideas and partnership with
different institutions in Rwanda. !
• Strenthening of the single mothers’ club. !
• Development of global network. !! Education for All Project!
• New crowd founding campaign (December-January) !
• Rent • New materials • Bills
• Support for those families who still face problems paying schools fees. !
• Development of afternoon activities (dancing, painting).
• Support for the development of new activities.
!• Support for those families who
face problems paying for health insurance.
!Those women and men who went through the 5 months vocational training period will now be hired as employees and will make a monthly salary as a way for them to sustain their own family.
3. Education for All 4. Youth for Youth
1. Salaries 2. Maintenance Costs
Opening of Ishami BoutiqueWhere we will be selling the products from the Sewing and
Agaseke Women Project and Umulinga Men project
Benefits distribution
NEED FOR INITIAL INVESTMENT (4,500 EUR)
information@irembofoundation.org
CONTACT INFORMATION
Bertrand Azahara
azaharagarciaespejo@gmail.comishimwebertrand@hotmail.com
+34 661 80 62 79+250 722 894 303
Make a Move. Shake the World