meet Emmanuel

Before I ever held a weaving needle, I worked in the fields with my parents. Life was simple, but unpredictable. Some seasons were good, others not so much. What we had, we shared—and that included knowledge. It was my older sister who first introduced me to craft. She had learned how to make decorative wall plates and small sisal baskets from a training center in our district. I was curious, so I watched. Then I tried. And I failed… a lot. But something about the process—shaping raw material into something useful and beautiful—stuck with me. A few years later, I joined a cooperative that supplies products to Krafts Rwanda. That’s when everything changed. I wasn’t just practicing a hobby anymore—I was building a skill, earning a steady income, and gaining confidence. Through my work, I’ve been able to support my younger brother’s schooling and save toward opening my own small workshop. I’ve also trained four young neighbors who are now selling their own crafts through local markets. It’s not just about the money—though that’s important. It’s the pride of knowing that something I made by hand now lives in someone’s home. Maybe even in a country I’ve never seen. That keeps me going. At Krafts Rwanda, we don’t just make crafts—we grow, we support, and we inspire. One piece at a time.