I found this social enterprise quite intriguing: Cards From Africa
We are a Rwandan social enterprise you might be interested in blogging about, especially with the 15th Anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide coming up soon. Cards from Africa provides employment handcrafting greeting cards to young people in Rwanda who have been orphaned by the genocide and now serve as heads of households. With the strong wages they receive, these orphans are able to provide for their younger siblings and keep them in school, thus improving their future prospects. I have attached our press release to this email.
We are working to raise awareness of the aftermath of the genocide, as well as of the innovative strategies that are being used to rebuild the nation. We hope you would be interested in writing about us! Please let me know if you have any questions, or if we could be of further assistance.
From the press release:
Fifteen years after the Rwandan genocide left behind a generation without parents, Cards from Africa is commemorating the anniversary by celebrating the lives of orphaned young people transformed through a unique combination of work and mentorship.
“Every day used to be so difficult,†recounts Florance Uwingeneye, who lost both parents and a younger sister in the 1994 genocide. “All the things we had while our parents were alive disappeared. Since I joined Cards from Africa, my life has changed tremendously.â€
Read the entire release here
I visited their workshop in the fall of 2007. I watched them recycle paper and assemble cards, using the paper they had made and such material as banana fiber. Their buisness model is remarkable, Chris Page is an inspiring speaker, and their cards are gorgeous. I recommend their work highly!