Women are vital players in developing Rwanda, both socially and economically. Traditional baskets woven by local Rwandese women help improve their lives and the well being of their communities. Now they are bringing hope and awareness to local communities across Atlantic Ocean.
From Kinigi to Pittsburgh: Rwandese Baskets Represent Africa in the Current G20 City
It was in the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (USA) where Rwandese traditional baskets received hot attention from local communities of US citizens. In the run up to the G20 world summit in the city, a locally based fair trade shop named “Equita” launched a series of lectures with the slogan Think Globally!
In the first lecture of the Think Globally campaign, Mr. James Kemsey from the International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP) and Ms. Kayo Yamada, gender specialist and former UN consultant, brought Rwandese baskets made by the women’s cooperative in Kinigi area communities to the people of Pittsburgh, and spoke about Africa’s challenges and progress, gender mainstreaming and women’s empowerment, and the links to conservation of mountain gorillas and biodiversity in the context of Rwanda.
Preparing for the G20 meeting, Pittsburghers were enthusiastic to learn about real challenges faced by African countries and what world leaders should do to respond to their needs. The current global financial crisis has been affecting aid to Africa. Global warming has been threatening African lives, causing serious drought and floods, yet Africans contribute the least to the increases in global temperatures. Women and girls are the most vulnerable to such emerging crises. Noting that 2009 is the Year of the Gorilla as declared by the UN, and international dialogue on biodiversity at the UN Conference of Parties (COP10) will take place next year, IGCP’s income generation project for women’s cooperative weaving was the perfect example to showcase the links between conservation of mountain gorillas and biodiversity, community development, gender mainstreaming and women’s empowerment. Launching Rwandese baskets and the Think Globally campaign just days before the G20 summit, the two messengers for the women’s cooperative emphasized that world leaders should make sure their agenda and deliberations reflect Africa’s challenges and needs, and that future policy addresses these development issues efficiently and effectively.
Photo= Participants are learning how biodiversity, mountain gorila conservation, poverty reduction and women's empowerment are linked each other at the workshop in Equita. (Photo©Kadae.C) Adding it all up: Beauty, Functionality, Empowerment and Conservation
“Most people think that conservation of the mountain gorilla has nothing to do with community development,” stated Mr. Kemsey. “The truth is, we cannot protect this charismatic species and biodiversity without collaboration with local communities and without concern for the lives of local villagers. Poverty causes human-environment conflict. The world needs to learn what these very acute needs are to address challenges on the ground. As a flagship species, gorillas provide many essential ecosystem services to the forests, and healthy forests equal healthy communities, both human and gorilla. Linking income generation and the health of communities directly to the health of the forest and gorillas is an example of a green economy that benefits all.”
Ms. Yamada added, “If you look at the number of poor and illiterate women and girls in the world, you will know how important it is to include women in every aspect of the development process. If you realize the fact that women do all kinds of work ranging from agriculture, household maintenance, and the collecting of water and wood every day, much of which is considered unpaid work, you will grasp how essential it is to ensure that policy and programmes are responsive to their needs. This basket signifies that women are an active agent of change, not mere recipients of development aid.”
Equita emphasizes the importance of functionality in traditional crafts, and their fair trade business as more than a charity activity. “Rwandese baskets are not just traditional crafts to display at home. They also have great functionality that we can actually use in daily life,” concluded shop owner Amanda Parks. “Add value due to the basket’s stylish, beautiful design, and this is exactly what we are looking for to carry in our shop.” Equita’s fair trade business is not just a charity seeking sympathy. It plays the role of raising awareness while offering customers functional and durable products. Rwandese baskets become more than just a product for sale. They play a vital role as a voice raising awareness in those in more developed countries of the reality and the progress made in Rwanda. Today, Rwandese women are accomplishing this while also empowering communities in the United States through the simple act of producing beautiful handmade products.
Photo= Rwandese women significantly contribute to local development AND conservation of biodiversity by weaving their baskets in Kinigi, Rwanda. The photo is ond of the presentation slides during the speech. (Photo©Kadae.C)