KIGALI - The founder of Cards from Africa, Chris Page, has said that there is need for more initiatives to make a difference in the lives of the vulnerable, especially orphans.

Cards from Africa is a business which does not only aim at making profits, but also ensure sustainability of orphans and supporting Genocide survivors and HIV/Aids victims through hand-made cards.

Speaking to The New Times last week, Page said the Cards from Africa idea was sold to him by a Kenyan doctor who had started a similar endeavour to generate income for women in a Nairobi slum. The project was to make paper and create simple card prototypes.

 Page said that the business was put in place with the objective of improving the quality of life for orphaned youth in Rwanda, and that the first employee was a young orphaned woman who later brought two more.

"Shortly after, 20 more orphaned youth were trained and the business was born,” Page added.  He said that currently the business is employing over 45 orphans and five management staff, and that over 100 orphans have been trained in the business. 

"Our profits are continually reinvested into company operations as well as the lives of our staff. Our hope is to grow to provide steady employment to 300 orphaned young people in Rwanda and to provide a model for sustainable job creation in Africa.

"Building the economy of Rwanda requires solutions that empower the aspiring yet disadvantaged group of young men and women,” he pointed out, adding, "We believe sustainable business is a key ingredient to lifting Rwanda out of poverty.”

Page observed that the majority of the population struggles to scratch out a meager existence and is often not able to afford the education necessary to improve their situation.

"We make high quality products, made in one of the poorest countries, available to the international market at competitive prices. In return, we offer well-paid employment to those who need it the most, coupled with valuable life skills,” Page explained.

He also said that the business has provided a stepping-stone for the staff to transition easily to another career or start their own business some day, and that Cards from Africa is currently developing a programme to effectively teach entrepreneurial, managerial and practical business skills to its staff.

"By unleashing creativity, teaching valuable skills, and fostering self-worth, we are confident that someday they will be able to access the international market themselves and contribute to a thriving economy and better quality of life for all Rwandans,” he noted.

Products of Cards from Africa include hand-made Birthday, Christmas, Congratulations, Father’s Day, Get Well, Mother’s Day, Sympathy, Thank You, Valentine’s Day and Wedding cards, to mention but a few. The products are exported to the US, Europe and Asia.

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