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Support for Rwanda Women

Handmade African Baskets

The Weaving Hope Story

In 2018, burton + BURTON® partnered with Beacon Technologies to weave hope for children in Rwanda. Only about 13% of Rwandan children attend preschool and 50% have stunted growth due to malnutrition. The idea behind Weaving Hope was simple: fund new schools for Rwandan children with sales of beautiful handcrafted baskets made by local artisans in the small Rwandan village of Gitarama. 100% of the proceeds from these sales went directly to building two schools that now nourish the minds and bodies of children–weaving hope for their future.

This mission not only helped the children, but also offered opportunities for Rwandan women to earn a steady living and escape gender-based violence, inequality, and discrimination. These authentic, handmade African baskets arrived directly from a women’s cooperative in the village of Gitarama. Proceeds created meaningful jobs that provided for their families, moving them from crisis and poverty to stability and economic self-sufficiency.

The first preschool opened in 2019 and has been a centerpiece for the families in the Nkuzuzu community. The second school was conceived as a Center for Early Childhood Educational Excellence that serves both as a preschool and a training center for the East African Christian College (EACC). The center allows college students to work in a student-teaching and training environment that produces effective preschool teachers upon graduation.

There is an increased need for qualified teachers to support the growth of preschool facilities in the Rwanda area, and we are so pleased that this center can both serve the children and foster educational growth in the village of Kabuga. Reverend Ethan Carlson, Director of the Rwanda Ministry Partners, said, “We estimate that over the next five years, the center will produce over 400 teachers and serve as a preschool for over 500 children. However, it’s bigger than that. These 400+ teachers will go out into Rwanda’s preschools to impact the lives of thousands of children every year.”

The preschool is dedicated to the families of Kabuga by burton + BURTON and Beacon Technologies. The school is also devoted in loving memory of both owners’ parents: Emma Lou and Maxie Hubbard (parents of Maxine H. Burton), Louise and Ellis Burton (parents of Robert Burton), Zona and Ken Dirks (parents of Mark Dirks), and Sharon and James Corl (parents of Tracy C. Dirks), all of whom valued education and family so much.

Visit WeavingHope.com to Learn More

Gallery

Weaving Hope photos Weaving Hope photos continued
weaving hope gallery new school 1 weaving hope gallery new school 2
Second School Complete! Second School Complete!
teacher and students walking to school teacher and students looking at new school
First School Complete! First School Complete!
children waving Dedication Plaque
Rwandan Children Having Fun with Balloons Dedication Plaque for the First School
dedication ceremony at school people weaving baskets
Dedication Ceremony Round #2 Being Woven
Beacon and burton + BURTON team Maxine with Rene Kirwa
Our Team at Bumbogo Preschool Maxine with Rene Kirwa (Bumbogo School)
Bumbogo Preschool Prototype Bumbogo Preschool Students holding hands
Bumbogo Preschool (Prototype School) Bumbogo Preschool Students
Bumbogo Singers singing Maxine with school children
Bumbogo Singers Maxine Saying Goodbye to the Children
Maxine, John Craig, and Rene Michael Burton and Tracy Dirks
Maxine, John Craig, and Rene (Nkuzuzu School) Michael Burton and Tracy Dirks (Nkuzuzu School)
Maxine at Nkuzuzu Classroom Nkuzuzu Children holding Balloons
Maxine Observing Nkuzuzu Classroom Nkuzuzu Children Enjoying Balloons
Boys Playing with Balloons Teacher Helping Inflate Balloons
Boys Playing with Balloons Outside Nkuzuzu School Teacher Helping Inflate Balloons (Nkuzuzu School)
children greeting the team Children walking home
Hello from Kibagabaga Preschool Children Going Home After School
child in class child smiling in class
Too Cute! More Cuteness in Kibabgabaga!
Basket Weaver showing finished basket colorful and assortment of baskets
Basket Weaver in Gitarama Beautiful Colors and Assortments of Baskets
Matriarch of Basket Weavers woman weaving a basket
Matriarch of Basket Weavers in Gitarama One of the Many Women Weaving Our Baskets
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