Artisan Profile: Asante Jacqueline

“I am happy to get this moment to tell you how I’m doing. First of all, thank you, I want to greet you with peace from God" -Asante Jacqueline

The beginning of June marked the end of Rwanda’s heavy rain season. Asante Jacqueline wrote to inform us that her roof had been destroyed, and her home flooded during the heavy storms. So it is with particular importance that we shed light on Asante Jacqueline this month. With the support from Same Sky customers we hope to assist Asante Jacqueline in fixing her home that she has so worked so hard to buy for herself. Stay tuned for more information on The Rebuild A Home Campaign, where Same Sky will host special sales and promotions with proceeds helping to rebuild two of our artisan's homes. 

Asante Jacqueline is a courageous 1994 Rwandan Genocide survivor that now works full-time for SAME SKY. After the genocide, Asante was left HIV+ and suffered from persistent leg pain due to an injury during the genocide. She was given the free HIV medication, but could not afford hot food to take it with or even transportation to the pharmacy to go pick it up.

In 2008, SAME SKY recruited, trained, and provided Asante Jacqueline with sustainable employment. With her very first paycheck she bought her children mattresses –which she says is an investment in their future. As Asante continued to make 15 to 20 times the average Sub Saharan wage she set personal investments for the future by becoming her own entrepreneur. She sells home appliances and also started a potato business at the local Kigali market with her daughter.

Asante Jacqueline believes in the power of giving back. Her income has allowed her to clothe, feed, and shelter not only her three children, but also an additional six children who were left orphans after the Genocide.  In our most recent update from Asante Jacqueline, she said that her white blood cells have increased dramatically and that she was able to buy land.