Historically marginalized people cope with Covid-19 effects through modern art craft

By Elias HAKIZIMANA.

Some of the historically marginalized people in Bugesera district in the Eastern Province of Nyamata sector say that despite the effects of covid-19 which made their clients of pottery products to disappear, they say they are now recovering after getting hands on training in the modern pottery profession.

The training was provided by the African Initiative for the Mankind Progress Organization (AIMPO), where they learned how to make cups, plates and ornaments in a modern way that proves their well-being.

Sano Emmanuella is one of those whose history shows that they are left behind in the modern pottery industry; she says that after the training, she recovered from the poverty and started a new life.

“After graduating from construction, I suffered from unemployment; covid-19 came to Rwanda. There was a ‘STAY AT HOME’ and I had no place to work because travel was forbidden. I could only beg for food to survive, but later AIMPO trained me with others where they provided us with Rwf25,000 every week for two months and then I continued to work; now that I am well off with my family,  and I have a hope that the modern pottery profession will help me to study at University. ” she said.

Sanyu Joy also said: ‘Before I used to make pots in a traditional way and I could not get clients,  I experienced a bad life, COVID-19 also had a detrimental effect on as I was chased away from the house by the landlord due to lack of payment, children could not get food and I was very worried, but after being trained by AIMPO I make modern plates, pots and pans and my life has changed because I can get enough food for my children. ”

Emmanuel Ntahompagaze, another beneficiary of the training said that the modernization of pottery industry changed his life.

“We used to work in the pottery business and we didn’t like it because we only worked to find food, when COVID-19 came, we could not find that food because we didn’t sell pots and other pottery products anymore, we were in a bad life because we could not get someone to employ us,” he said. “Life is good again after being trained about modern pottery and art craft, I use the knowledge acquired and I get some money to make my life better.” He added.

Richard Ntakirutimana, the chairperson of the African Society for the Advancement of Historically Disadvantaged (AIMPO) says the aim of the project was to help historically disadvantaged people to revitalize traditional pottery to promote development and increase value, to nurture and develop this profession.

“COVID-19 has affected everyone, but on the part of those who are historically left behind, it has come to their rescue because they were already living a miserable life, by helping them cope with the effects of COVID-19, we have given them food and We will provide them with a variety of assistance for the project, to upgrade their careers, to increase their value, for the betterment of their livelihoods, to provide them with machinery and we will continue to work with them and find markets for them in collaboration with government entities. ”

AIMPO operates in five districts of the country namely Bugesera, Gicumbi, Musanze, Burera and Nyabihu focusing on helping women, young people create jobs, fight malnutrition in children, fight pollution and create jobs.

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