Ettiene’s basket-making business supports 50+ Rwandan families.
Growing up in rural Rwanda, death was a common theme in Ettiene’s household. At the age of three, he lost his mother. At eight, he lost his father. Because Ettiene was an only child, he was left to care for his grandmother until she passed away, too.
Around thirteen, Ettiene sought help from his aunt and uncle. He hoped they’d allow him to live there and enroll him in school, but they chased him away instead. Homeless and depressed, Ettiene made a plan to end his life.
Two days before Ettiene planned to carry out his decision, he heard about Zoe Empowers and attended an informational meeting. During the session, he asked a staff member about the meaning behind the organization’s name and learned that “Zoe” is the Greek word for “life.”
The definition rattled Ettiene to his core.
Later in the meeting, the staff shared Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
“That is when I knew,” Ettiene said. “This was a sign I was meant to live—that God had a purpose for my life.”
As a Zoe Empowers participant, Ettiene started a basket-weaving business. He used his profits to buy clothes and food. With his savings, he rented land to grow cassava for additional income. Eventually, he built a new home. By the time he graduated in 2015, Ettiene was completely self-sufficient. But he didn’t stop there.
Inspired by a speech given by the Rwandan president encouraging Rwandans to “think big,” Ettiene began approaching exporting companies to buy his baskets. He bid on projects and was awarded large contracts, requiring him to train and hire more basket makers to fulfill the orders.
Today, Ettiene employs 50 full-time basket weavers, whom he proudly pays a fair, living wage every week. “Because Zoe Empowers restored my hope, it makes me happy to pay a fair wage because I know I’m creating hope in their hearts,” Ettiene said.
And Ettiene is generating hope.
Zoe Empowers staff recently asked Ettiene’s employees and anyone impacted by Ettiene’s business to gather for a photo. 101 people showed up. Only one had previously been involved in Ettiene’s Zoe empowerment group. All the others were community members or employed by Ettiene.
One employee, Brigitte, whose family joined her for the photo, became emotional as she described her gratitude for Ettiene. She said many women who work for Ettiene had woven baskets elsewhere in the past but received little pay.
With Ettiene, the women can count on a stable and livable wage. Brigitte and her husband can afford school for their children, medical insurance, and daily household needs. They own livestock and have a savings account.
“My husband loves my work,” Brigitte added. “He said it’s brightening our home with happiness for our four children.”
Another employee called Ettiene honest, kind, and courageous. Praised him for creating a peaceful work environment.
An entire community has grown to rely on Ettiene for his knowledge and expertise. He is a leader and mentor for other orphaned children. A caretaker. A boss. A teacher. An artisan. A father. A husband. A friend. Ettiene is all the things he never dreamed he could be ten years ago when he was alone: hungry, homeless, and suicidal.
Zoe shifted Ettiene’s trajectory with a single opportunity. And now, Ettiene is paying it forward by providing opportunities to countless others.
