A stately white structure crowns a gentle hill above Rutongo village, its sunlit interior humming with quiet creativity. Embroiderers gather at low tables, their needles weaving intricate patterns into fabric—depicting prowling lions, towering giraffes, and women surrounded by kaleidoscopic beetles—under soft natural light.
This workshop is the heart of KORUM, a women-only cooperative that has transformed lives for 21 members while addressing the legacy of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide. Once trained in traditional embroidery by Belgian nuns decades ago, these women now lead through their craft. The initiative’s revival began in 2012 when French siblings Véronique and Pascale Gamard partnered with cousin Solange to relaunch the program, establishing Ibaba (“bird wings” in Kinyarwanda)—a fashion brand that remains KORUM’s primary client.
President Alphonsine Nyiraminani, clad in purple, field-directs operations daily despite managing domestic duties. Her story mirrors many: having traded subsistence farming for financial independence while raising two children. “After school fees and food, we invest in joy—a television stands as testament to our progress,” she reflects, departing for home amidst convivial chatter with colleagues.
Photographic documentation captures the emotional landscape of this endeavor. One image shows workers exiting the workshop in shared stride, another reveals thread archives overflowing with crimson and sapphire hues. Judith Bapfaguheka’s expertise in landscape motifs—particularly Rwanda’s iconic “land of a thousand hills”—illustrates specialized talent cultivation. Modern LED-lit workspaces now complement the original nuns’ workshop structure beside Rutongo Catholic Church, blending heritage with progress. The collective’s efforts extend beyond individual livelihoods; in a nation where women constitute 60% of parliament but often cluster in informal sectors, KORUM creates pathways to formal economic participation and financial sovereignty.
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