Walmart launches online site to empower Rwandan Women Enterprenuers

An American group of stores Walmart, launched an online site to promote Women’s Economic Empowerment in Rwanda and all over the world.

Launched on the eve of International Women’s Day— March 7, 2013, the program will network women entrepreneur globally to create new jobs and improve both their own lives and the lives of their families and communities.

The decision was announced in September 2011, by walmart and can now be found on Walmat.com.

The site will be found on Walnut.com.

“Empowering Women Together is a simple concept; it connects shoppers in the United States with quality products made by women-owned businesses around the world,” said Andrea Thomas, senior vice president, Walmart.

 

“And in doing that, it helps achieve so much more.  Through Walmart’s Empowering Women Together, customers can help these suppliers increase their incomes, better their lives and create new jobs for others, and Walmart can help these suppliers gain experience with buying trends, scaling, product development and acumen they need to build their businesses.”

To help empower the women behind these products, Walmart is applying the same model for making a difference that it has used to take on other social issues such as hunger, accessibility to healthy foods and sustainability.

In its initiative, Walmart has partnered with other organizations that share the same goals and bring expertise and leadership to problem-solving including Full Circle Exchange and Global Goods Partners.

“As merchants, we’re always looking for new products to share with our customers that are quality, on-trend and priced right,” said Kelly Thompson, senior vice president of merchandising, Walmart.com.

“The products from the Empowering Women Together collection deliver all of that while also giving our customers the chance to do good with their dollars – it’s a positive and powerful proposition for everyone.”

Empowering Women Together will be part of Store for Good, a developing Walmart.com program dedicated to connecting consumers with products that do good for other people, for themselves, or for our environment.

The initiative will grow and potentially include eco-friendly products and healthier food options.

Each of the businesses participating in Empowering Women Together is fueled by women with inspiring stories.  No two stories are alike.  Challenges such as poverty, lack of education, domestic abuse and physical limitations are common.

One of the women to benefit from walmart’s initiative is the founder of Gahaya Links, Joy Ndungutse— an entrepreneur from Rwanda who tells her success story.

“From a humble beginning under a tree in a remote village in Rwanda, my sister and I founded Gahaya Links after the devastating 1994 Rwanda Genocide that left over 1 million dead,” said Joy Ndungutse.

“We organized about 20 women with a vision of empowering them to enhance their weaving skills, to be able to earn an income, and live adequately by community standards.

Today, we are a growing network of over 4,000 women, the majority of whom are genocide survivors and are organized in cooperatives throughout Rwanda.

“Through our partnership with Full Circle Exchange and opportunities such as Empowering Women Together, this platform gives hope to many families in Rwanda and we are so grateful.”

Similarly, women around the world will be graced with the opportunity they never thought they’d have – to begin or greatly expand their access to shoppers in America.

In addition to merchandise from Gahaya Links and the inaugural Empowering Women Together collection also includes jewelry from Rwanda, Kenya, Peru and the U.S.

Empowering Women Together is also dedicated to helping U.S.-based women-owned businesses grow and expand their distribution.

Nine of the initial 19 Empowering Women Together businesses are U.S. based.

Others are home accessories from Rwanda and Haiti; paper mache from Haiti, apparel and accessories from Rwanda; iPad and laptop cases from Cambodia and Nepal; coffee and tea sets sourced globally and made in America; and specialty foods made in America and Canada.

The key goals for Walmart’s Global Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiative’s were formed through conversations with leaders from government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), philanthropic groups and academia and include increasing sourcing from women-owned businesses, empowering nearly 1 million women through training, and promoting diversity and inclusion representation within our merchandise and professional services suppliers.

Empowering Women Together is part of this initiative’s 5-year commitment through 2016 to source $20 billion from women-owned businesses.

In addition to these key focus areas, Walmart will support its Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiative with more than $100 million in grants that drive progress against its goals.  Funding will come from the Walmart Foundation and donations directly from Walmart’s international businesses.

Founded in 1945, by Sam Walton Walmart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices.

Each week, more than 200 million customers and members visit our more than 10,500 stores under 69 banners in 27 countries and e-commerce websites in 10 countries.

With fiscal year 2013 sales of approximately $466 billion, Walmart employs more than 2.2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity.