Steven Turikunkiko, Togetherness Cooperative and All Soul’s Community
Rwanda 🇷🇼
Meet Steven
As a young man, Steven was compelled to help those who were orphaned and widowed by the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Steven had been orphaned at the age of five, and his experience motivated him to reach out to others. He brought survivors together and helped them create cooperative groups. Steven gathered 80 children who were without family and committed to see them thrive. With his leadership and care, they were able to survive by forming child-headed households. These children became the Togetherness Youth Cooperative. Steven also worked to stabilize and encourage a large group of women who had been widowed and traumatized; they became the All Soul’s Ebenezer Cooperative.
Steven’s work is informed by the deep understanding that people are better off together than alone. Even in the face of difficulty, with community, love, hope, healing, and innovation can flourish.
About Togetherness Cooperative
In 1998, Steven began to organize and serve the children who eventually registered their remarkable group as Togetherness Cooperative in 2012. They began with nothing but each other and the care of the determined and devoted Steven.
Today, decades later, these children are leaders, thanks to Steven’s faithfulness and the strength of community. Many of the original members provide leadership, and together they care for a group of more than 450 young people. They are family and community for each other. They are planning for the future and serving others around them.
Remarkable transformation has taken place with steady investment from friends and supporters around the world. With thriving community development initiatives serving hundreds, Togetherness has become a locally-operated, joyful hub for employment, education, empowerment, and connection for their rural community.
The Togetherness youth continue to develop strategic initiatives that provide stability, sustainability, and community connection. Togetherness uses their resources to further equip themselves and improve the lives of their neighbors.
- Women’s Bakery Business
- Togetherness Preschool and Primary School
- Community Solar Powered Well
- Multi-purpose Meeting and Gathering Spaces
- Ebenezer All Souls’ Sewing Cooperative and VICOBA Plus Group
- VICOBA Plus Training Hub
- Soccer Infrastructure and Training for unity, girls empowerment, and community health
- Farming and Food Security
Opportunities to Invest in Community Development:
- Continued Togetherness Primary School construction, including finishing the administration building and medical clinic.
- Further land expansion for future sustainability and growing initiatives.
- Construction of a community hall, inspired and designed with the needs of the community at the forefront.
- Ongoing support for education for kids.
- Investment in sports for community empowerment.
- Small business start up capital.
- Affordable housing initiatives.
- Leadership training and capacity building.