Overcoming poverty in Rwanda
“This project has changed my life because ignorance is a disease... Now, we are happy and work together. We are able to build houses.... people who do not live in the cooperative come to buy tiles from us and they…
Nyange leaders are constructing storage shelter for roofing tile enterprise
Nyange leaders have begun construction of a shelter to house their roofing tile equipment and the tiles they are producing. After negotiating with government officials to secure land and timber to construct the shelter, leaders are working in partnership with…
Nyange cooperative get boost in tile making business
A team of engineering students from Santa Clara University travelled again this year to assist PICO Rwanda leaders in Nyange improve their tile making technology. Much of their week in Nyange was devoted to strengthening the tile press to make…
Nyange leaders secure land for tile-making business
PICO-Rwanda has supported the plans and work of the poorest women in Nyange for the past six years. It has been a long journey as they struggle to gain their voice and demand attention from local government authorities. During that…
Help Raise $2,000 for a New Kiln for Nyange Women to Launch their Roofing Tile Business
For five years, women in Nyange have made bricks and roofing tiles by hand to build homes for the poorest widows in their village. With the help of the Engineers without Borders Club at Santa Clara University, they now have…
Fall Update from Rwanda: Making roofing tiles in Nyange
The women of Nyange have built three homes for the neediest in their community, using bricks and roofing tiles made by hand. Now they have a clay mixer and tile press designed by Engineers without Borders students from Santa Clara…
Nyange Partners Are Meeting Challenges to Make Tiles, Build Homes, and Build Community
When a Santa Clara student asked women leaders, “When was Nyange at its best?”, they all said ”right now”, because their tile-making cooperative is providing them with their first opportunity for a new life. With training and support of PICO Rwanda,…
Nyange Women Rise from Poverty to Provide Epiphany Her First Home
The Women’s Cooperative in Nyange is building a new home for Epiphany, who is living with her two children in another family's home. Epiphany's husband disappeared during the 1994 genocide and her children are 22 and 26. This is the third…
Student Engineers Will Work with Nyange Leaders to Design Tile-Making Kiln
PICO Rwanda leaders in Nyange have negotiated with government officials to provide land where they plan to construct a tile-making kiln. Now they are preparing for a second visit by Santa Clara University student engineers who will work with them…