Blog Archive
Bread Travels: Madrid, Spain
The international inspiration continued when, two weeks ago, Julie Greene and I had the opportunity to present The Women’s Bakery’s work to a wonderful audience in Madrid, Spain. Spain!
Mental Health Counseling Program at TWB
As a social enterprise we have the privilege to meet market demand with local supply while we create jobs for strong women, as well as foster healthy lives from a holistic level.
The Story Behind the Curriculum
With accreditation, TWB is a viable option for women who cannot attend University and may not fit the mold elsewhere. We bring together vocational skill development with knowledge, exploration, and community.
This is the beauty of education and we look forward to the journey as we continue to innovate, discover, and grow with our bakeries. #breadpower
The Future is Within Us
Live longer women, live longer TWB Women, live longer TWB Team. Keep supporting them they will reach far and very far.
Breads power is real power.
The Proof is in the Women
The proof is in the bread, and in the women, and in our team. Our newly opened Flagship in Kigali is the perfect example of what we can achieve with a dedicated team, some sweat and tears, and the motivation of empowering and sustainably employing women.
Gicumbi Training
These women are the next group of Strong Women Baking Bread, and I’m so excited to watch them rise.
Small Incremental Change – The Path to Sustainable Change
We believe that small, incremental change is a strong indicator of sustainable change. Our team is proud of all the hard work we have contributed to making a difference in the lives of the women we work with.
Flashback to Memory Lane
Switching from wooden ovens to electric ovens at our Kigali Bakery was a game changer, but as a Rwandan proverb says, “If you don’t remember where you came from, you will never know where you are going.”
Opening & Launching the TWB Café Shop and Flagship Bakery
We have come from so far, and each small step has set us forward.
Zoomed in on Gicumbi
In 2018, TWB is focusing on Gicumbi as our next training and bakery launch site. Our preparations are on a good track, including developing the training schedule, partner relationships, and interview process for the participants. We will be launching the training for this group on April 23rd.
It's Going to Go Big
It is not just bread rising in the bakery; it is community and empowerment.
Our Days Are Filled with Problems to Be Fixed
The simple, most important lesson I have learned in Rwanda is that our days are filled with barriers, but almost every barrier also has a solution. Every day, multiple times a day, we need to craft solutions to meet the challenges, regulations, and broken systems that we face.
From Scratch: Our Flagship Story
Building something from scratch takes work. It takes grit. It takes passion and endurance. But those are things that the staff at The Women’s Bakery embodies well.
Education & Nutrition are the Keys to Life
We will keep nutrition at the core of what we do so that through education and nutrition, healthy opportunities can abound.
What does progress look like?
We believe in our mission. We listen. We learn from our mistakes. We remain committed to what we know can work.
Incorporating New Technology – Bakery Growth Pains & Gains
One of the most exciting, and challenging, new adjustments to the bakery production in Kigali is the use of technical baking equipment, including electric mixers and a three-deck gas oven.
Harvard's 19th Annual Social Enterprise Conference
Social enterprise celebrates multiple bottom-lines and I am grateful to be a part of a company that is pushing this possibility forward.
A Proud Walk
“ Then… now we are just getting started,” one of the women said as she reflected on how far TWB has come. Indeed, we are just getting started.
TWB Rwanda's 2nd Annual Team Retreat
The main purpose of the retreat was to review how 2017 went what we want 2018 to look like. This was achieved through presentations on organizational culture, alignment, project reports, and updates on marketing plans, curriculum updates, and model adaptations.
Markey's Ted Talk Now Available for Streaming
Last year, in October, Markey delivered a Ted Talk as part of TedxGateway Arch in St. Louis. In her talk, Markey shared about her story in launching The Women's Bakery and also, how we can all reimagine the power of bread.