Kigali, Rwanda
Rwanda — the land of a thousand hills, known for its breathtaking landscapes and remarkable recovery after a painful past. Today it is a country full of resilience, energy and hope, while still facing everyday challenges, especially in rural communities.
Women in Rural Rwanda
For many women outside the cities, life remains shaped by limited job opportunities and strong social expectations. Single mothers, unmarried women, and young women without stable support systems often face stigma and economic insecurity.
The Dayspring Sewing Project
Against this backdrop, the Dayspring Sewing Project was created — a small training initiative that offers women a space to learn sewing skills, gain confidence and develop their own creative ideas.
At SoRarePieces, we support this project as part of our Impact Commitment.
The pieces the Sewing Ladies create are not part of our regular SRP collection, but we share selected items as thoughtful additions to some orders or upon request. It’s a simple way to contribute to their income and keep their craft connected to the world.
A Project with Local and External Support
The Dayspring Sewing Project was originally supported through the German initiative “1000 Schools for the World”, donations from the Fürst zu Oettingen-Spielberg administration, and the German non-profit Menschenfreude e.V.. The project continues to operate independently on site in Kigali.
A Project Rooted in Community
Based at the Dayspring Primary School in Kigali, the program provides a daily learning environment for the women. They receive sewing instruction, practice teamwork and develop practical skills step by step — often while their children attend school nearby.
Courage, Learning, and Small Steps Forward
Many of the women face social barriers, but in the sewing room a different set of values matters: courage, patience, creativity and mutual support. It is not a professional workshop — it is a place where learning happens stitch by stitch, where every small progress counts.
Women with Heart and Dedication
Among the group are women like Beltilde and Solange, who bring their own sense of colour, pattern and personality to the pieces they work on. Teacher Claudine guides them with care and commitment, creating a space where the women feel seen and encouraged.
As Beltilde shared: “We are very grateful for the cooperation, the kindness and the changes happening in our lives.”
The items made at Dayspring are handmade with dedication, often carrying small irregularities. They are part of a learning journey, a step toward confidence and self-reliance. Each piece reflects effort, hope and the desire to move forward.
This is why we include their work as special additions — not as commercial products, but as a gesture of support, visibility and encouragement.
A Stitch of Hope
Every small piece from the Dayspring Sewing Project represents a beginning: a new skill, a bit of income, a moment of pride. And sometimes, that’s exactly where impact starts.
If you’d like to support the project yourself
Here you can see a small selection of the pieces created at the Dayspring Sewing Project.
If you would like to support the women directly by purchasing one of their handmade items, feel free to write to us at hallo@sorarepieces.com.
We will be happy to connect you and help arrange a piece for you. Thanks for your support!