Kigali City Council (KCC) on Saturday unveiled two kiosks to market art and crafts products weaved by women, under the brand of Agaseke.

City Mayor Aisha Kirabo Kakyira said the initiative was intended to strengthen women’s economic empowerment and promotion of their livelihoods.

"We undertook this initiative of putting women together to start weaving, with the aim of elevating the living standards of women,” said Kirabo.

She added that when the women actively participate in finding a solution to their social-economic problems, it would improve their welfare.

She further applauded the women involved in these self-help activities for their commitment and hard work that has challenged many stakeholders to support them. She urged them to be more creative, saying this is the only way of achieving their vision.

The Mayor expressed her gratitude to the various stakeholders who partnered with KCC, such as RIEPA and UNIFEM for their support.

The president of the weavers’ cooperatives, Peruth Mukamusoni, underscored that despite the grueling work and sacrifices they had made to strengthen the weaving cooperatives, they are now starting to reap the benefits.

"We are about to get a market in Japan. People in Japan gave us their desired colours to make for them craft products, which we did and they appreciated,” revealed Mukamusoni.

The Minister of Commerce and Industry, Monique Nsanzabaganwa who was also the chief guest, promised unreserved lobbying and support to Agaseke, being a country’s brand and a tool for women financial empowerment and the country as a whole. She said that there is market for the Agaseke products both in the country and internationally.

"Your challenge is to produce as much as you can both in quality and quantity, there is a lot of market potential for the products,” she said.

There are 16 weaving cooperatives from the three districts that make up Kigali city Council and the total number of women involved is 3200.

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