Bee-keepers, basket makers, educators and business owners

How are you? Are you making the most of the new found freedom and meeting up with family and friends? It feels strange being reunited with people after so long apart. And even stranger thinking about the people and places we still can’t visit. But this is where Taking Pictures, Changing Lives really comes into its own strength. As our team grows we are well positioned to assist charities and organizations who are still restricted by travel. Recently Bizi was able to visit Hand in Hand Development in Rwanda 6 months on from his last visit to report on the impact of their projects. He’s taken 6,000 photographs that are being edited ready for them to use! HAND IN HAND FOR DEVELOPMENT Hand In Hand for Development (HIHD) promote the wellbeing of communities living in economically difficult situations - orphans, unemployed youth, widows, and disabled people. Bizi visited a range of their economic empowerment, business skills and social inclusion projects… GRASSROOTS YOUTH AND WOMEN EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVES. Women and youth are major contributors to economic development in Rwanda, yet they face many problems related to a traditional culture that excludes them. HIHD’s economic empowerment project improves the social-economic wellbeing, income generation, production, and employment of single mothers, widows, youth and other vulnerable people.

BEE-KEEPING BUSINESS. Bizi revisited Samuel who received beekeeping training from one of HIHD’s partner organizations. Starting off by travelling around the city looking for clients, Samuel’s wife took out a loan and invested in their business. They now have a small shop and have invested in a motorbike to deliver honey and easily visit their beehives that are located in three different districts. NABACU PROGRAM HIHD’s Nabacu programme works for equality for people living with albinism. The organization is integrating youth with disabilities and people living with albinism through social and economic programmes into the community. HIHD is preventing isolation and working within the community to decrease discrimination and stigma. People with albinism need skills to engage in economic livelihood activities. They often lack access to basic education, making them unqualified to join skills training courses, resulting in low confidence, expectations, and achievement. HIHD are helping 130 people with albinism and their families through saving and loan groups, and income-generating activities. Martha in an unmarried woman in her 60s. She faced stigma and discrimination in a relationship due to her skin colour so she decided to stay single. HIHD have helped her to make baskets. When the tourism sector revives in Rwanda again they will help her sell her products. Vincent, is a young man with albinism who has the support of a loving wife and child helping him make the most of the tailoring classes HIHD enrolled him in. With the support of HIHD, Vincent now has new business skills and tailoring equipment to create his own sustainable income. Bizi visited many more families in the community who are working with HIHD. His photographs will help raise vital funds the charity needs to continue working with this wide range of people seeking ways to better their lives and provide for their families in rural Rwanda.