Creating Leaders of Change with Handspun Hope in Rwanda
Some places in this world need a little more of our love. That’s why we’re proud to share the mission of today’s Spotlight on Women Makers organization, Handspun Hope. This impactful organization’s mission is to provide “… holistic support to Africa's poorest through job creation, community building, and spiritual counsel.” With over 40% of the world’s poor living in Sub-Saharan Africa, an estimated 490 million people live under $1.90 USD a day. That’s to support an entire family. But, it’s simply not enough. Through the education and empowerment of Rwanda’s women, Handspun Hope aims to help families and communities to overcome poverty and help spark change across the continent and the world. Today, we’re sharing their story.
The Beginning of Handspun Hope
Executive Director and Founder of Handspun Hope, Diana Wiley, first traveled to the magnificent yet impoverished area of Sub-Saharan Africa in 2002 after hearing a presentation at her church. She wanted to make a difference, so she started volunteering with an aid organization in Mozambique. But while she was there, she learned more about the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
This horrific part of Rwandan history destroyed much of the country’s infrastructure. It also left a devastating number of widows and victims of sexual assault, who are now living with HIV/AIDS as a direct result of the genocide’s violence. The people of Rwanda have made strides towards a brighter future, but Wiley knew she could do more to help.
She knew that by empowering these women who have suffered great injustice, they’d reinvest that knowledge and capital into their communities. They’d transform into empowered leaders of change for this grief and violence-stricken nation.
And so, Handspun Hope was born.
A Social Business Model Cultivating Leaders of Change in Rwanda
The Handspun Hope social business model is unique, as it doesn’t just provide opportunity through trade. Instead, they focus on healing the whole person.
After experiencing the horrors of the genocide, many women the organization works with are traumatized and suffer from PTSD. Some live with HIV/AIDS or other serious injuries or diseases, while others were widowed and are supporting a family with no means for sustainable income. So, how do they reignite the fire in these women and turn them into confident, powerful, and intentional leaders of change for their communities? Through a few avenues:
Shop Handspun Hope at Simply Inspired to Support This Powerful Mission
Through intentional spending, our purchases can make a real impact on women across the globe. With digital transformation, the world is getting smaller every day, which means it’s getting easier to support those who need it most from anywhere in the world. Meet the women your purchase from Handspun Hope is impacting here. It’s truly inspirational to see the goals these women have set for themselves after undergoing transformational work with Handspun Hope.
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