Community Development in Rwanda

Gashora Weavers Cooperative, known as COVAGA (short for Cooperative de Vannerie de Gashora), is a collective of 61 members, comprising women and children, dedicated to weaving traditional baskets using natural fibres.

Two decades ago, Rwanda faced a significant environmental challenge: the water hyacinth, an invasive weed that choked lakes and rivers, blocking sunlight and disrupting aquatic ecosystems. Seeking a sustainable solution, COVAGA members began clearing the water hyacinth — and weaving its stems into hats, fruit baskets, and wall decorations. What sets COVAGA apart is this transformation of an environmental problem into social and economic opportunity.

Starting in 2009, BBR collaborated with partners to facilitate the construction of the Covaga Innovation Centre — a purpose-built hub where COVAGA weavers carry out their craft, market their products, and collaborate with the wider community. Built by international volunteers working side-by-side with Rwandans, the Centre significantly improved COVAGA's productivity and economic stability.

Today BBR is revitalizing the Centre by completing its two remaining buildings: a weaving studio, and a kitchen where nutritionists will teach participants to prepare nutritious quinoa-based meals, with a courtyard for meals, social gatherings, and events.

Malnutrition and hunger remain pressing challenges in Gashora, Bugesera. In collaboration with QuinoaHub Ltd., COVAGA, local community organizations, and the Gashora Sector, BBR is establishing a Quinoa Demonstration Garden. Quinoa is a highly nutritious, drought-resistant crop with the potential to significantly improve nutrition diversity, food security, and health in the region.

The project demonstrates the viability of quinoa cultivation, trains local farmers, and promotes a diversified, resilient food system — with a quinoa farmers' association, seed saving and exchange, and a community cooperative for production and marketing ensuring long-term sustainability. It aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and serves as a model for other regions facing similar challenges.

As a nation emerging from the aftermath of genocide, individuals continue to grapple with lasting consequences, including mental health challenges and widespread poverty. The founder of Gira Ubumuntu, himself a survivor of the genocide, committed himself to understanding the root causes of the high number of street children by establishing connections with them and their families. BBR supports this work of healing and reintegration.