The Nyamirambo Women’s Center (NWC) has developed into a small but important community center offering classes sewing classes, English classes, computer classes, literacy classes, and weaving classes to community members. Workshops on women’s rights, health, and nutrition have also been offered by NWC. In April 2016, NWC added a class on mental health for the women working in the cooperative Umutima.
Women at work in one of the free Kinyarwanda literacy classes offered by NWC.
Across the street from the production studios and the shop, NWC founded a community library that offers books in Kinyarwanda, English and French. With some adult books but mostly children’s books, the idea behind the library is to encourage reading among the youth in Rwanda and to promote the idea of “one child, one book” in a country where reading has not historically been culturally central. The library is open to all and offers free afternoon programming for children 4 days of the week, with sessions including individual reading, cartooning, craft-making, games, dance lessons, and storytelling activities.
These community programs began with the financial support of the Peace Institute of Slovenia and continue today with a new project funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia (2018-2020). At the same time certain activities are sponsored by a Tree for Rwanda and financed by the income generated by Umutima and NWC's tourism offerings.
These community programs began with the financial support of the Peace Institute of Slovenia and continue today with a new project funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia (2018-2020). At the same time certain activities are sponsored by a Tree for Rwanda and financed by the income generated by Umutima and NWC's tourism offerings.
