Artisans from Rwanda

As markets open up, the women of Igira Impuhwe in Rwanda earn needed income from the sales of their eco-friendly, handwoven grass baskets. Igira Impuhwe lifts women like Mukangenzi Laurance out of desperate poverty. She now rents a home, has health insurance for her family, bought clothes for her children, and rents a garden to grow food. Each woman in the group is also presented with the life-changing offer of eternal hope. Mukangenzi thanks God for changing her life. Igira Impuhwe means “God is compassionate” in Kinyarwanda.

Many years ago, a benefactor of the artisans of More Than Sparrows shared a reading from Matthew 10:31: “So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." These women were sex workers and street vendors, isolated women who were considered the lowest of the low. This reading assured them that they had great value. Knowing their own worth brought them comfort and hope. Through their struggles, they have discovered a sense of identity. They have become more resilient and because of that, they now stand up and say, “We are More than Sparrows.”