Team Work
Commitment to working together to achieve a common goal while respecting each individual’s background.
Teach a Woman to Weave How it all began
After the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, thousands of women were left as widows, single mothers, and orphaned teenage girls who were the sole income providers for their families. Sisters Joy Ndunguste and Janet Nkubana recognized the opportunity to use traditional Rwandan weaving as a means of income generation, and created Gahaya Links as a training facility and marketplace to economically empower Rwandan women.
Today the company manages a network of over 4,000 weavers across the country organised in 52 savings cooperatives.
Gahaya Links became the first Rwandan handicraft export company to benefit from the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) which enabled the company to penetrate the US market. With Fairwinds Trading Inc. and Macy’s partnerships, the company is now the leading exporter of Rwanda’s one-of-a- kind baskets through its Path to Peace program. The Macy’s relationship is the cornerstone of Gahaya Links’ success.
Gahaya Links’ success is based on traditional weaving techniques to empower the women of Rwanda and the country’s socioeconomic development.
At Gahaya Links, we believe that women’s economic empowerment provides the foundation for achieving sustainable peace and development in Rwanda. Our model revolves around this belief, going beyond fair trade to create jobs and improve the quality of life for women (and men) living in Rwanda’s most challenging socio economic environments.
OUR VALUES
Commitment to Quality
Commitment to differentiating our product line by its superior craftsmanship, bringing new innovations, diversifying our product line and offering a unique product to each customer.
Customer Service
Responsiveness to all customers regardless of their size and background.
Accountability
Commitment to being responsible for all company decisions and operations to meet the expectations of the board and the clients.
Commitment to Sustainable Practices
Paying fair and competitive wages, and going beyond wages to provide basic life services to improve the quality of Rwanda’s rural women and men. Providing both product and management training while encouraging growth and personal development.