INDEGO AFRICA
TOP-RATED 2010
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Target demographics: Indego Africa currently partners with more than 250 remarkable women in Rwanda, many of whom cope with HIV/AIDS; suffer from psychological trauma; have little formal education; care for several children, including orphans from the Genocide in 1994; and are the sole providers for their households.
The women are organized as independent cooperatives, a corporate form that promotes the well-being of its members through democracy, equity, and equal rights to assets. Cooperatives are grounded in the Rwandan value of ubufashanye.
Geographic areas served: Rwanda
Mission:
Indego Africa is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit social enterprise that partners with cooperatives of Rwandan artisans, all women, and sells their fair trade handicrafts at high-end U.S. retailers and on its Webstore. Indego Africa then returns 100% of profits to the cooperatives through its comprehensive training programs in financial management, entrepreneurship, literacy, and computers. The training programs are administered by top students from Rwanda’s School of Finance & Banking and other universities.
Indego Africa’s founding principles – transparency and good governance – are central to its goal of changing the conversation about what fair trade means and how nonprofits can and should operate. After scaling its operations within Rwanda, Indego Africa plans to replicate its model in other African countries. Indego Africa is a member of the Fair Trade Federation and the subject of a Harvard Business School case study, scheduled for publication in Fall 2010.
Indego Africa’s founding principles – transparency and good governance – are central to its goal of changing the conversation about what fair trade means and how nonprofits can and should operate. After scaling its operations within Rwanda, Indego Africa plans to replicate its model in other African countries. Indego Africa is a member of the Fair Trade Federation and the subject of a Harvard Business School case study, scheduled for publication in Fall 2010.
Results:
In one year:
- Enhanced Quality of Life ~ 585% increase in the number of women who are satisfied/very satisfied with their quality of life.
- Increased Income ~ 336% increase in the number of women earning more than $1 per day.
- Greater Food Security ~ 96% increase in the number of families eating at least twice per day.
- Higher Child Education Rate ~ 17% increase in the number of women reporting some or all of their children attend school.
- Better Housing Conditions ~ 42% reduction in the number of women with no permanent residence and 26% increase in the number of households with beds for all residents.
- More Electricity ~ 90% increase in the number of households with electricity.
- More Bank Accounts ~ 153% increase in bank account ownership.
- Better Access to Communication ~ 138% increase in the number of households with a telephone.
- Enhanced Quality of Life ~ 585% increase in the number of women who are satisfied/very satisfied with their quality of life.
- Increased Income ~ 336% increase in the number of women earning more than $1 per day.
- Greater Food Security ~ 96% increase in the number of families eating at least twice per day.
- Higher Child Education Rate ~ 17% increase in the number of women reporting some or all of their children attend school.
- Better Housing Conditions ~ 42% reduction in the number of women with no permanent residence and 26% increase in the number of households with beds for all residents.
- More Electricity ~ 90% increase in the number of households with electricity.
- More Bank Accounts ~ 153% increase in bank account ownership.
- Better Access to Communication ~ 138% increase in the number of households with a telephone.
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rlester
05/23/10
What makes Indego Africa a model organization for the economic empowerment of communities in need is the fact that it puts the women of its cooperatives at the center of the decision-making process and programmatic focus. This ensures not only that the specific needs and concerns of the women of ...
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zdshankm
05/19/10
I have been involved with Indego Africa since its inception in September 2006. The great success of Indego Africa rests upon an innovative social enterprise model that enables Rwandan women -- many of whom are genocide widows -- to lift themselves out of poverty. Indego Africa provides these women...
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vadimthered
05/19/10
Indego Africa has an especially devoted leadership team that has inspired countless people to provide their time, effort, and financial support. It would be difficult to find a better organized, more transparent, and driven charity...
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