When Florence was eight years old, her family was forced to flee Rwanda to escape the genocide. Miraculously, her brothers, sisters and mother all escaped to DR Congo, but her father, who helped the family get away, was caught before he reached the border. He was burned to death.

Florence and her family scraped by for years in DR Congo, but despite their best efforts, they didn’t have enough for basic needs like health care. After years of hard work to support the family, a new tragedy hit: Florence’s mother contracted malaria and, unable to afford treatment, passed away.

Eventually, Florence and her siblings were able to return to Rwanda, but finding consistent work was impossible, because she never had a chance to finish primary school.

Then, she met Cards from Africa, a local social enterprise, and her life was changed forever.

Not only did a job with Cards from Africa enable her to pay for food, shelter and medicine, she was able to save money and start putting her son through school, and even started her own business. “My life was hard, and I was not able to finish school,” says Florence. “But my son will not have a life like that. He will get a good education and have an exceptional life.”

Cards from Africa has helped many women on their own journeys to self-determination. Many have experienced trauma through the Rwandan genocide. All have stories of poverty and hardship. Cards for Africa trains and employs young people in Rwanda like Florence to make beautiful cards that are sold all over the world. Each card is made by hand and signed on the back by the person who made it. “We’re restoring hope to those who are barely surviving, offering well-paid employment to those who need it the most,” say Cards from
Africa.

Crossroads sells some of the cards made by CfA at our Global Handicrafts shop, online and in-store.

With thanks to CfA for Florence’s story