Project Description

Abahizi Rwanda is a women-led artisan cooperative established in the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Specializing in handwoven goods, the cooperative has become a model for post-conflict economic recovery, gender equity, and cultural resilience. In 2013, GAC partnered with Kate Spade & Company to initiate the On Purpose project, aiming to integrate rural female artisans into global supply chains while strengthening local economies and leadership capacity.

By 2018, On Purpose had enabled the construction of the Abahizi Workshop, equipped it with advanced tools, and implemented comprehensive training in production, business management, and financial literacy. The Workshop's architectural design reinforces its mission, using passive ventilation, natural daylighting, rainwater harvesting, and an adaptable open plan to support varied production needs. In 2019, a new community meeting space was added, continuing the use of passive strategies while hosting business and accounting education for cooperative members and local residents.

Today, Abahizi employs over 100 artisans and produces goods for the Kate Spade On Purpose line, distributed internationally. Their leadership and impact were recognized in 2022 when they were named a "Best for the World" B Corporation by B Lab, placing them in the top 5% globally for social and community impact.

As architect Pascale Sablan reflects in Architect Magazine, organizations like Abahizi and initiatives like On Purpose represent a justice-driven design ethos—one that redefines architecture not simply through aesthetics or form but through equity, authorship, and cultural continuity in the built environment