I'll never forget meeting Rebecca Tinsley five years ago in Rwanda. This petite, incredibly strong woman is the founder of Network 4 Africa and opened my eyes to the needs of women and children in Rwanda who are still suffering more than ten years after the country's infamous genocide. Rebecca took me to a co-op of women artists who are genocide survivors, and to a farming co-op that teaches women heads of households about agriculture and nutrition. She told me about workshops her group was sponsoring to train survivors of rape so they can go into their communities and work with women who, for the first time, can tell their stories and begin to heal. This organization is the real deal, and the good news is that it only takes a small donation to make a huge difference. Here's more from Rebecca:
Jennifer Haupt: Tell me a bit about Network 4 Africa. When did you launch this organization and why?
Rebecca Tinsley: I wanted to help the resilient, resourceful survivors of the Rwandan genocide I'd met to rebuild their lives. They were already making an effort, but they needed financial support and skills training. My role is to match skilled volunteers with people who are keen to learn. We don't spend money on offices or 4-wheel drives in Africa. Our aim is to train local people, and then remove ourselves from the equation. Just because people are illiterate, it doesn't mean they're stupid: people usually know what needs to be done in their community, and we train them to reach their goals.
JH: How big a problem is poverty in Rwanda? Is the country still recuperating from the 1994 genocide?
RT: The genocide devastated an already unbelievably poor country. About 85% of doctors and teachers were killed or fled, meaning Rwanda had to start again. That presents us with great opportunities to rebuild the country with positive values, like targeting education and power at women, who tend to be the ones who pick up the pieces in post-conflict situations. The Rwandan government has a very pro-female philosophy, and it encourages women to be the agents of the change Africa desperately needs.
JH: What are the different training components of Aspire, and why focus on training women?
RT: At Aspire we teach illiterate women to read and write, and train them with a commercial skill such as craft-making, as well as nutrition, hygiene, family planning, and improved agricultural techniques. Once women are empowered with literacy and the ability to earn income, they gain confidence and start participating in family and community decision-making. Their involvement benefits everyone because the women teach their neighbors and children what they've learnt, and they spend their income educating and feeding their kids. Women are the key to transforming lives because they have everything to gain: they have low status and little power within traditional African society, so they are the agents of change.
JH: Tell me about a successful business co-op (or two) that were formed by women trained by Aspire?
RT: Each woman at Aspire is taught the basics of business, as well as an income-generating skill. We help her form a co-operative, and when she graduates the co-operative is recognized by the Rwandan government. That means they become an official supplier of crafts and other products, with access to export markets. More profoundly, the women learn to help each other solve problems and cope with the demands of being the breadwinner and child-minder. Suddenly, they realize they are not alone struggling against the odds.
JH: How many women has the program trained so far, and what are your goals for 2011?
RT: So far we have trained 350 women, and we want to take on another 50 women each year in a 12-month program. Each woman teaches her neighbors and kids, so we believe we reach another four people for each woman who graduates.
JH: People don't have a lot of money to spend this holiday season. What are some of the ways that donating $50 or less can make a difference in your program?
RT: For $47 we can provide a Rwandan genocide widow with a solar lamp with which she and her children can work and study after dark, which happens at 6pm. No one has electricity and paraffin can be dangerous and unhealthy. The great thing about the solar lamp is that it also charges cell phones, so she can also have a small business charging people's phones. Please go to www.Network4Africa.org to buy a solar lamp. Or people can buy their Rwandan necklaces at www.Doncaster.com
