It's become my Saturday morning ritual. Wake up, put my running clothes on, stretch, and run 5.5 miles to doughnuts. Then eat doughnuts. :) I know it sounds counter-productive to "run to doughnuts," but I run more for my mental health anyway. Plus, it's like the gold at the end of the rainbow that keeps me truckin' up the Kigali hills. Fresh doughnuts! Chocolate-glazed, cinnamon, vanilla, caramel-glazed! Even better than Krispy Kreme! Really!
Saturday morning doughnuts is just "side" venture of African Bagel Company, a part of a ministry of Tentmakers of Rwanda, that was started by Robin and Rich Smyth, missionaries from New Hampshire. The Smyths moved to Rwanda six years ago, and have created different "centres" designed to educate and empower women in their community. Their centres specifically target women who are widowed from the genocide, orphaned, or HIV positive, and they teach the women financial planning, career skills and different trades, health and hygeine, nutrition, and English. The women also participate in daily devotions that help unite them, and teach them about living a Godly life. One of these centres is called the Phoenix Home, and was started in 2008 to care for homeless women and children in Kigali.
The African Bagel Company began when Robin was teaching some ladies cooking and nutrition classes, and some ofher ex-patriate friends in Bible Study mentioned that bagels were one of the American foods they missed from home. So Robin began working with the ladies and teaching them to make bagels. It soon spread throughout the international community here, and now the women sell the bagels at schools, churches, and even the Embassy. They are delicious and super-filling too! Now, they've learned how to make plain, wheat, sesame, onion, herb, and my favorite...cinnamon-raisin bagels!
But ABC is way more than just a business venture. It is transforming the lives of the women who are a part of this community, and is about so much more than making some cash and providing ex-pats with a taste of home. These women are learning English, learning how to work together, learning God's Word, sound financial planning, and how to take care of their health and that of their family. Even the cooking process is done with traditional measures such as charcoal, so the women are perfecting a skill set that they can use in their homes.
After realizing the bagels were a big hit, Robin began teaching the women how to prepare doughnuts as well. But the doughnuts are only available on Saturday mornings on a first-come, first-serve basis. That makes me run even faster! :) Now, Robin has also introduced chocolate-chip cookies, flour tortillas, chips, and homemade hummus, salsa, and peanut butter. ABC also provides a place for local artisans to sell their crafts and help generate an income for their families.
I love that the Smyths have taken a creative approach to breaking the cycle of poverty, and helping empower these women. And who doesn't love doughnuts? Saturday morning has become an enjoyable time of gathering, networking, and meeting new people in my community. It's the perfect solution for all. :)
To read more about the Smyth's ministry in Rwanda, visit their website: http://tentmakersofrwanda.com/
I finally made it!
The women busy preparing the doughnuts
Emma (daughter of a KICS teacher) is helping the ladies prepare the sugar ones.
Mmmm....fried food!!
Delicious bagels
No comments:
Post a Comment