An Update from Markey Culver, CEO

I want to share about our recent trip to Kigali, Rwanda. In May of this year, I traveled with MG Huth (our Development and Communications Manager) to our new flagship bakery. Wow—it was incredible! I had a moment of reflection while walking through this 14,000+ square foot building: Ten years ago, The Women’s Bakery was a brand new organization, barely incorporated, literally running on hope and a dream. Our bakery operated out of a small house on the outskirts of Kigali. We baked in a small, crudely constructed tin oven—barely bigger than a typical home oven—or on an open charcoal stove. Women kneaded dough by hand and sold bread on foot. A good day in 2015 meant selling two loaves of bread and 48 buns.  

Today, our warehouse is outfitted with commercial equipment that mixes, kneads, shapes and bakes bread. Women bakers produce 700 kilos of dough each day, to make ~25,000 buns, hundreds of loaves of bread, and specialty items, all of which are distributed and sold within Kigali and surrounding communities. These bakers expertly use commercial equipment—when we visited, they got a kick out of teaching us how to use it!

Ten years ago, I couldn’t have imagined where we’d be today. I’m grateful that this recent trip gave me the opportunity to stop and reflect—we have come so, so far. Thank you. Thank you for turning the dream of TWB into a viable, sustainable reality. On this trip, I also saw the impact of the US federal funding cuts in other organizations, which makes me feel especially grateful that TWB remains strong. Other organizations have been forced to turn people away, but we are able to plan for and create sustainable opportunities for our team members. We remain a positive force for women and communities, because of our dedicated community of supporters, like you. Thank you. 

With gratitude,

Markey