Nyamirambo Women’s Center

…I was struck by the strength of Rwandan women in survival and leadership roles. This is whether they were rebuilding their lives after personal loss, or empowering others through community initiatives. These visits challenged my assumptions and helped to deepen my understanding of what healing as well as transformation can look like. 

What I found most interesting about the Women’s Center was how deeply rooted it is in the community as its not just a support organization, it is a space run by the community for the community. Despite hardships (such as where to put remaining money after rent) the center has created a safe, empowering environment where women can learn, grow and even teach others. Mary, one of the original members, now leads tours and speaks to larger groups with confidence, something she may not have imagined possible before. The center also runs free classes - like hair braiding so women can gain skills and then go home to care for their families.

They even have books in French, English and Kinyarwanda to promote literacy and inclusivity. Through their tourism efforts like cooking experiences, walking tours and basket weaving, it is helping to share their culture and generate income. This led me to wonder how many more women could benefit from this kind of a space, if more centers like this existed across Rwanda? Are there ones?