We are wrapping up week three here in Rwanda and it has been some of the sweetest three weeks of the whole race thus far.
Rwanda is full of rich memories and laughter.
Rwanda is home to the richest (& sadest) history, most lovely people, and warmest culture. Rwanda has given me the gift of family, sisterhood, and sweet simplicity. Rwanda’s beauty has shined brightly through the precious kiddos running the red-dirt streets, beautiful greenery views best seen from their many hills, and the cutest bakery serving the best sweet potato rolls and focusing on women empowerment.
Rwanda is home to my favorite little GEM, The Women’s Bakery! Seriously, I adore this place. We came across this beauty on Thanksgiving, and as I already had so much to be thankful for, I gladly added this little gem to the list.
Another piece of my dream that I get to live amongst since being on the World Race; let me tell you my heart swells with love and my mind runs through my dream a million times every time I step inside. A huge passion of mine is women’s ministry. Really truly, God has given me an enormous heart full of love and compassion for women. (If you haven’t read about my dream yet then please dream with me.) I love forming strong relationships with women, diving deep, and empowering women to grab ahold of the freedom and worth that Jesus gives them so freely. One of my favorite parts of women’s ministry, which is definitely not the most glamorous, is the walking through the trenches hand in hand followed by uncovering forgiveness and redemption. It’s a truly beautiful sight to watch women who were once held down by their broken pasts, giving them something full sastisfying and worth living for (JESUS!!!!), and watching them walk away as strong, confident, and redeemed women. Holy chills!
I love what this bakery stands for. It’s far more than just a bakery. It’s a place partnering with local women in East Africa leading to overall better families, promoting education for future generations, and helping to prevent prostitution that accompanies the lack of job opportunities for women.
In East Africa, nutrition, education and jobs are scarce; The Women’s Bakery believes women empowerment is the change. They believe this change matters, and they are taking leaps to make this a reality for women in Rwanda. Here is how:
- The Women’s Bakery prioritizes education, health care, and economics.
- Women in their training program complete, on average, 6 years of formal education.
- Their training program includes 153 hours of custom curriculum including courses in accounting, inventory management, marketing, nutrition, and hygiene, providing women with relevant bakery skills. Praise God, they have already trained 74 women in just 3 years.
- 40% of women who start their training program do not have health insurance for themselves or their families. However, 100% of the women in their program have health insurance!
- The Women’s Bakery partners with local women who want to open their own bakery. They connect with local farmers, craftspeople, property storeowners and leaders to develop our product, markets and infrastructure – extending the change to the entire community. They equip women with the training to launch and manage a bakery. A staff member stays on sight of the bakery after launch to help reach full sustainability until eventually handing over ownership of the bakery. This woman knows the women and understands their needs and goals, and supports them along the path to sustainable, gainful employment.
So yeah, I’m kind of obsessed with this sweet little place. I believe for incredible reasons! But I forgot to mention their relaxed outdoor area equipped with a bed swing, couches, bean bag chairs, swings, and greenery galore; it is quite the dreamy place to read your Bible or blog about Africa, if I do say so myself. HELLO PEACEFUL REST DAY!!! And heck no, I don’t feel guilty in the slightest about eating 2 cinnamon sugar pretzels, a beet brownie, a tropical carrot smoothie, and an avocado egg salad sandwich on one sitting…It’s going to a very good cause!
If you’re ever in Rwanda, you must go to The Women’s Bakery!
