On Oct. 12th, 2011, two representatives of Indego Africa’s partner cooperative Cocoki, Emelienne Nyiramana (Founder and Treasurer) and Therese Iribagiza (Vice President) touched down at JFK Airport for a whirlwind 17-day tour of New York City and Washington, D.C. Indego Africa staff member Yves Ndashimye, a Generation Rwanda scholar who recently graduated from Rwanda’s School of Finance and Banking, accompanied the artisan entrepreneurs.
While none of the three had previously ever left Rwanda, let alone flown on an airplane, each arrived brimming with enthusiasm and curiosity. Together with Indego Africa’s U.S. team, the travelers dove headfirst into a diverse slate of panel discussions, meetings, trainings, celebrations, and sightseeing adventures. MORE HERE!
Speaking at the global law firm of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP and New York University’s Development Research Institute, for instance, the trio reflected thoughtfully on their lives, businesses, challenges, and visions for the future. “If you work hard,” Emelienne explained at Orrick, “you can know everything you want.”
At the global headquarters of Goldman Sachs, Emelienne and Therese shared their experiences both as Indego Africa artisan partners and as Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women program participants with an overflowing room of firm employees. Emelienne explained that her “secret to leadership is listening,” while Therese reasoned that one must “be an example for others and look at the future, not just the present.”
The distinguished trio spent two full days with fashion designer Nicole Miller and her team, receiving training in advanced sewing techniques, design, and business strategy, followed by a vibrant party at Nicole’s boutique. They also visited DANNIJO Jewelry’s design studio in the Meatpacking District to speak with the inspiring founders about future design collaborations and lessons learned as fellow women entrepreneurs.
In Washington, D.C., the team visited the State Department to meet with Maria Otero – the Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs – and representatives from the Office of Global Women’s Issues to discuss the role of women in promoting stability, peace, and development around the world. Following English and Kinyarwanda interviews on Voice of America, the Embassy of Rwanda hosted a reception where Therese drew wild applause when she exclaimed: “We get training at the cooperative from Indego Africa, and then we go home and train our husbands!”
Now don’t fret; the trip wasn’t all business! From a private tour of the White House to a matinee performance of the Lion King on Broadway to breathtaking Big Apple views from the Empire State Building, the trio were the consummate tourists. Yves, in particular, was struck by the fast-paced, goal-oriented nature of Manhattan, remarking: “In New York City, everyone walks fast because they have purpose. I will return to Rwanda and show everyone how to walk fast!”
Indego Africa’s Meet the Artisans dinner event punctuated the historic trip. Nicole Miller presented a slideshow from her recent visit to Rwanda. Emelienne, Therese, and Yves, speaking on a panel moderated by Adriana Gardella of The New York Times, collectively delivered a striking narrative of hope and promise to an audience of supporters. Therese passionately advocated that “once you help a woman, it means you help the whole family. And once the family is good, the whole country is good.”
Born in February 1975 in the southern province of Rwanda, Emelienne was a secondary school student when genocide erupted in 1994. Separated from her family, Emelienne endured the next two months alone, eluding genocidaires in fields, jungles, and homes. After struggling for many years to make a livable income in a wide variety of jobs and entrepreneurial endeavors, Emelienne founded Cocoki and spearheaded a partnership with Indego Africa. She is currently treasurer at Cocoki. As Cocoki flourished and Emelienne grew into a confident leader, she decided to apply to the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Entrepreneurship Program at Rwanda’s School of Finance & Banking. She was accepted in May 2010, started in July and graduated, proudly, in January of 2011. Emelienne is married with four children and is the sole provider for her household of six.
Therese was born in the Southern Province of Rwanda in 1976. After finishing primary school she joined a sewing training centre for three years, later starting her own business as a seamstress. Therese eventually moved to Rwanda's capital city, Kigali, to pursue better business opportunities, and joined Cocoki in 2008. As Vice President, Therese has spearheaded Cocoki’s transformation into a flourishing and profitable international business. In addition to being a master seamstress and unstoppable entrepreneur, Therese is a proud wife and mother of three girls: Anne Marie Merci (age 13), Marie Adorate (age 11), and Celine Umubire (age 7), and, as we recently found out, has been accepted in Goldman Sachs 2011 10,000 Women program
Yves Ndashimye was born as a refugee in Burundi in 1987. After the 1994 Rwandan genocide, he repatriated to his home country, where he graduated from high school in 2006. In 2007, Yves was awarded a competitive scholarship from Generation Rwanda, Inc., a non-profit that supports orphans and vulnerable youth by paying for their higher education school fees. Yves joined Indego Africa in January 2009 as a Management and Business Planning intern and consultant. In Jan. 2011, Yves was promoted to Senior Intern and, among other things, spearheaded weekly business training programs at various partner co-ops, drafted business development curriculum, and managed in-country financials for Indego Africa. Yves is currently a fourth year student studying accounting at the School of Finance and Banking (SFB) in Kigali. He is finished with his classes and waiting for his official graduation in December 2011. On July 1, 2011, Yves secured full-time employment role with Indego Africa as its thoughtful and deliberate Accounting and Operations Assistant. Yves is also co-founder of a consulting company, Max Impact Consulting.
