Many of you know I am a volunteer for the
Institute for the Economic Empowerment of Women. It is a business organization that provides mentoring for women in Afghanistan and Rwanda. I had the pleasure of traveling to Rwanda in March to see our 2013 class and visit all of the 8 women I have mentored over five years and others that I know. I had more fun than I deserved. Rwanda is beautiful! Beautiful people, lush, green, lots of fresh fruits, veggies and so much more. I just wanted you to see the country side and see some of the faces of fashion in Rwanda!
Gloria Kamanzi Uwizera (with the hat on) runs the
Rwanda Nziza that carries apparel, accessories, home goods, hand carved wood products and many other products made at several Rwandan cooperatives.
Meet Emelienne Nyiramana! She is the founder of Cocoki a sewing cooperative started in 2007. Cocoki has made products for Nicole Miller, J Crew and several others Unites States retailers.
Emelienne will be attending the IEEW United States business training and mentor program in July. I will be mentoring her in Dallas. We are planning a pop up shop of Cocoki's products on Sunday, July 21, 2013. Stay tuned for the time and location.
