NEW YORK (XOL Africa) — A partnership between the Francine A. LeFrak Foundation, Same Sky Foundation and Indego Africa is helping more than 700 women artisans in Rwanda build sustainable businesses through entrepreneurship training, financial education and access to international markets.
The initiative, known as the Same Sky Foundation x Indego Africa Artisan Small Business Incubator, supports women across 17 artisan cooperatives in four provinces of Rwanda. The program provides vocational training, business development, quality control, design education and market access to help participants achieve greater financial independence.
Organizers said the initiative has distributed more than 3,800 handcrafted products since August 2025, generating about $38,000 in income for participating artisans while expanding opportunities for women-led businesses.
Products made through the program are sold by international retailers, including Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Frances Valentine and Smithsonian Museum Shops. Organizers said growing demand from retailers and designers is creating additional production opportunities for Spring and Summer 2027 collections.
“Women’s empowerment is not simply about opportunity. It is about power,” said Francine LeFrak, founder of the Francine A. LeFrak Foundation and Same Sky Foundation.
“When women have access to education, entrepreneurship, financial resources and global markets, they gain the ability to shape their own futures. Through the Francine A. LeFrak Foundation, Same Sky Foundation and our partnership with Indego Africa, we are helping women in Rwanda build businesses, access business training, create financial independence and become leaders in their communities.”
The incubator combines entrepreneurship training with direct access to local and international sales channels. Indego Africa’s Rwanda-based team works with participating cooperatives on product design, quality assurance, export support and business development to help artisans meet international retail standards.
In addition to overseas markets, products are sold through the Kigali Genocide Memorial Gift Shop and the City of Kigali’s Agaseke Center, expanding domestic sales opportunities for women-owned businesses.
“Our selling point is quality because of the support we receive from Indego Africa,” said Judith, a member of the Same Sky Cooperative.
“This builds our resilience, and we are using our own means.”
According to the organizations, the program currently supports approximately 700 women artisans, with women making up 99% of participating cooperative members. It also offers training in merchandising, customer engagement and financial management while helping cooperatives connect with buyers across Rwanda.
LeFrak said the initiative demonstrates how investment in women’s entrepreneurship can contribute to broader economic development.
“Among all the challenges facing the world today, these women continue to demonstrate extraordinary creativity, resilience and entrepreneurial spirit,” she said.
“Their success is proof that when women are given access to opportunity, education and markets, they do not simply participate in economic growth. They drive it.”
Indego Africa, established in 2007, partners with artisan communities in Rwanda and refugee camps in Rwanda and Ghana to provide entrepreneurship training, design support and market access aimed at strengthening women-owned businesses and improving household incomes.
