English girl in East Africa
It’s good to be back. You may remember me, Katie Garner, from such chronicles as ‘How to eat your way around New York’ in 2010, or ‘How not to navigate the Congo’ in 2012, or ‘Various shades of coffee shop’ in Portland, Oregon 2015. Now, I’m back with East Africa...
A message from Parfaite, African Road VICOBA graduate
"Hello, my name is Parfaite Nimbona, and I am a single mom and a member of Pilgrims VICOBA group in Burundi. Over the last five years I have tried multiple small businesses (selling clothes, women’s products…) but because they all seemed to fail in the first year, I...
Bakery Training at Togetherness Cooperative
As a donor and volunteer for African Road, it doesn't get much better than this: Pulling up to the Togetherness Cooperative in person for the first time, feeling the breeze, seeing the view, smelling the farm, and knowing it really is real. On Tuesday, I was delighted...
One year later, VICOBA still bringing change in Tanzania
Sunny skies, big smiles, and flourishing businesses – that's what greeted African Road VICOBA trainer David Clemy on his recent trip to Tanzania. Last year, 63 women and girls in Tanzania participated in VICOBA small business training. The participants are members of...
Aaaaaand we’re off! Women’s bakery training begins in Rwanda
Aaaaaand we’re off! 21 women and young people have begun training to start a bakery business in Rwanda. The bakery business will create jobs for women, provide nutritionally enhanced bread – a commodity that is in high demand but short supply in Rwanda – and impart...
VICOBA begins in Kenya!
Last week, African Road Changemaker David Clemy travelled to Kibwezi, Kenya to lead the first session of VICOBA training. Kibwezi is a rural community in dry, Eastern Kenya on the road between Mombasa and Nairobi. Access to water is one of life’s major challenges in...
Meet Leigh Harvey, African Road Rockstar
Meet Leigh Harvey, longtime friend of African Road, Women’s Bakery Champion, and all-around rock star fundraiser. Leigh has been a supporter of African Road since the early days. In 2010, she gathered some friends* to travel to Rwanda with Kelly Bean and went back...
In the past week alone…
In the past week alone... More than 150 children from the indigenous Batwa tribe in Burundi started school. Crops are being planted in three rural Batwa villages. Progress is being made in Kenya on a well project. Funding was committed for teacher training for...
Bonding over brunch, building a better world
Last Saturday morning, African Road supporters filed in out of the Portland rain with brunch dishes and a heartfelt curiosity to learn about East Africa. After coffee was poured, plates were filled up, and the mingling settled down, everyone gathered in Dennis and...
Now Open — The Corner Store!
One amazing little store in Rwanda, full of potential, made possible with the help of many friends of African Road! While we affectionately dubbed this effort 'The Corner Store', Providance selected the name (drum roll...) Boutique Murisanga, which means ‘The Welcome...