Sorwathé, Rwanda’s private tea company has initiated community projects in Kinihira, Rulindo district aimed at reducing poverty among residents.

Cally Alles, the company director general, told The New Times recently that the company introduced projects like basket weaving, making energy saving stoves and local thermo.

He said they injected $142,000 (about Frw76.9m), in basket weaving and cook stoves, with 25 percent of the money contributed by the Rotary Club of Kigali.

"The money facilitated the training of 70 women in weaving baskets at Gahaya, and making of energy cook stoves,” Alles said.

He said the cook stoves project was first initiated by American Rotarians in 2001, whose technology has since been transformed to make it more cost effective.

Alles said the basket project was in line with the appeal from the First Lady Jeanette Kagame, in June last year to the private sector, to invest in and market Rwanda baskets.

She is said to have urged the private sector to invest in the formation of cooperatives and the sourcing of markets for the Rwandan baskets, to improve on people’s income because of their demand.

"The women and other projects beneficiaries are currently earning income, as Sorwathe helps them to market their products,” the director general said. After receiving training, he said, residents are currently making baskets and stoves.

"For example an energy saving cook stove costs Frw5,000, local thermo Frw3,500 and the rocket stove costs Frw1,500. All these act as good substitutes for expensive fuel, saving about 90 percent. And above all, health friendly as there is no dangerous smoke,” Alles said.

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