I stopped by Urugo Café for yogurt and snacks, unaware that each item came with a story worth savoring. It turns out, the creamy yogurt was made right here, on-site, by women from the local community. These same talented hands also craft the vibrant baskets, jewelry, and home décor lining the café’s gift shops.
Urugo means “home” in Kinyarwanda, and the Urugo Women’s Opportunity Center truly lives up to its name. Founded in 2013 by Women for Women International, the center is a safe, empowering space where women learn skills, earn a living, and support their families. Even the campus itself has a story—designed by architect Sharon Davis and built with clay bricks handmade by a local women’s cooperative. Sustainability runs deep here, with rooftops that harvest rainwater and solar power to keep the lights and showers running.
Past the workshops, I found the Urugo Ecolodge, where “glamping” takes on a Rwandan twist. Imagine spacious safari tents with Wi-Fi, solar-heated showers, and verandas that open to views of the rolling countryside. The center also offers cultural excursions, dairy production tours, and craft workshops where visitors can weave alongside the artisans.
In the craft market, I felt like a kid in a candy store. I finally chose an akaseke basket—woven with precision, carrying centuries of tradition, and symbolizing peace and unity. Here in Rwanda, weaving is more than art; it’s reconciliation, bringing together women from once-divided ethnic groups. The agaseke has become a national icon, proudly displayed on the coat of arms, public buildings, and even the 5,000-franc note.
At Urugo, I didn’t just leave with a basket—I left with a piece of Rwanda’s story, a reminder that beauty, resilience, and community can be woven together, one strand at a time.