The innovative Dancing Pots pottery project was established in 2001 and works with 14 potters groups located throughout Rwanda By commercializing the Twa's traditional skills of pottery and dance, and creating a Twa-run Fair Trade craft enterprise, Dancing Pots is helping to reduce Twa poverty and social exclusion.
The project aims to improve the living conditions and reduce the social exclusion of the impoverished, marginalized indigenous Batwa potters of Rwanda. The project's Fair Trade enterprise helps Batwa develop their traditional skill of pottery to earn a fair and sustainable income and improve their communities' living conditions thanks to their pottery crafts. The project trains potters to increase the quality and diversity of their products, boosts sales through increased access to high-value markets, and helps potters' build the capacity of their associations and increase their business know-how, with the potential to take over the management of the enterprise eventually.
Dancing Pots mission is to strengthen the capacity of the Twa community to enable them to actively participate in their socio - economic development and promote their rights. Enhanced capabilities and improved living conditions increase potters self-confidence, social standing, and empower them to defend their rights of land and natural resources. As well as counter ethnic discrimination against them.
The project contributes towards the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals, and is consistent with the Rwandan government's poverty reduction and rural economic strategy as it reduces the number of Rwandans dependant on subsistence agriculture for their livelihoods and encourages capacity building in non-agricultural income generating activities.
The project is based on Fair Trade principles, meaning that the Batwa potters groups are paid fair wages in the local context, they have a voice in decision-making and the evolution of the project; working conditions and practices are safe; there is a positive and improving situation for women, protection of children, young workers, and working practices that respect the environment. The project is working towards strengthening the capacity of the potters to be able to improve their living conditions of living.
Listing Details
Classification Criteria
Fairtrade or Similar, Social Enterprise
Primary Country Where Active:
Rwanda
Location (Town, City, District or Region)
Kigali
Postal Address (Main Contact)
New Dawn Associates Ltd. UTC Building n°3.12 P.O. Box 1343 - Kigali - Rwanda