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Our HISTORY
Like
many artisans’ structures, mainly their associations and their sales
points, ours was destroyed during the genocide of 1994, too. That event
also obstructed mutual confidence and the motivation for joint
professional efforts of groups of artisans under a common roof for some
time. Nevertheless, the artisans of Butare managed to regroup and to set
sails for a new joint undertaking with the assistance of the GTZ project
PASUD (“Promotion de l’artisanat au Sud du Rwanda”) since September 1996
right next to our sales shop.
The massive return of refugees and resettlers in October 1996 helped a
great number of artisans to restart their professions. Little by little,
the artisans watched out for markets and production niches in spite of
all the problems they still encountered such as financial, logistical
and raw material supply problems which they face regularly in this
border zone far away from the capital.
However, it was only in August 1997 when the artisans of Butare founded
the COPABU - Inganzo Yacu, a sales office commonly called “PERMANENT
SALES ROOM” of artisan products. The members still produce in their
homes on the hills, then they deliver to the sales office in town
whenever they’ve got anything of good quality to sell. The mentioned
sales office is located in the town of Butare, more precisely in the
urban commune called Ngoma just opposite hotel IBIS.
The COPABU (Coopérative
des Producteurs Artisanaux de Butare) is dedicated
to …
·
sell
products of its members at prices fixed by them while retaining 22% of
the sales price for overhead costs (18%) and taxes (4%),
·
develop
the trades of its members through the permanent sales room, sales fairs
within the country, and the participation in national and international
fair events,
·
develop a
sense of quality regarding all those products commercialised in the name
of its members, be they individuals or producers associations.
Our OBJECTIVES
·
to
reinforce links and mutual confidence among artisans ;
·
to
restart and reinforce the organisational set-up of artisans ;
·
to assist
artisans get in contact with potential clients so as to enhance mutual
respect and appreciation;
·
to act as
a role model of artisans’ potential in the province of Butare (« Made
in Butare ») ;
·
to serve
as a platform for contacts between artisans, other economic operators
and local authorities ;
·
to
provide market access to artisans ;
·
to
facilitate basic management training for those of our artisans being
members of the FAAB, too ;
·
to
follow-up closely our members to enhance the quality of the products
(quality control).
Our
TRADES
Quite a number of
different trades are organised in the COPABU of which we would like to
briefly present the most prominent ones:
wood
carving
Wood carving is
predominantly done with Jacaranda and Umusave wood. The sculptures with
religious, traditional and modern motives are coloured with paint and
sometimes with – believe it or not – shoe polish. Apart from
sculpture carving, there is also the fabrication of utility products
such as plates, mortars and other recipients.
carpentry
Although carpentry
developed a lot with the help of sophisticated machinery, there still
exists a good number of carpenters using hand tools producing an
astonishing quality.
The
usually small offer of wooden toys on the Rwandan market might be
overcome by COPABU’s efforts. You find an interesting range of toys such
as: clown on wheels, building blocks, dancing chicken, drums, rattles,
stilts, finger labyrinths, wooden tower or bird puzzles, etc. It’s quite
a number of toys you’ll usually find only in western countries.
basket
making
Baskets are traditionally woven by women utilising leaves found in the
high mountains or in swampy areas. The decorations and traditional
motives are painted with natural colours. Two different raw materials
are used: banana bark and sisal fibres. Thanks to the training
programmes offered by the “Fédération des Associations des Artisans de
Butare” (FAAB) of which we are proud to be members, we hope to be in the
position to offer a range of new high-quality products in a short time
(document organisers, filing systems, etc.).
greeting
cards
Quite recently our post cards producers have developed a range of new
designs never seen before in Rwanda. The perfection and the finishing
are unbeatable. See our special greeting card display arrangement!
Totally new products saw the light of the day: watch the eagle made of
banana bark being tied to the ceiling and starting to fly with the
slightest wind breeze. It’s great to get your home decorated like this!
tinsmiths
The art of the tinsmiths is the transformation of metal sheets,
popularly called galvanised sheets, into objects using folding, riveting
and welding techniques. The products we commercialise are mainly
traditional or improved stoves. Other products are water cans, buckets
and basins.
blacksmiths
Rwanda’s blacksmiths were already well
known during the times of our kings; they produce tools, utility objects
and decorative items such as sets of lances, which women decorate with
pearls. This work is traditionally done with rudimentary work tools.
Their bellows aren’t always mechanic; many of our members still use skin
bellows to heat the iron before it can be brought into shape.
Membership development
of COPABU
The COPABU («Coopérative des Producteurs Artisanaux de Butare») is
composed of 63 individual artisans and 51 producers associations. A
Management Committee elected for three years heads the COPABU. This
Committee represents the different trades which sell their products
through our sales room in Butare and during trade fairs we organise. The
General Assembly meets twice a year to listen to the Committee’s
reports, to analyse our economic situation, and to discuss matters of
basic concern.
Our head-office is located in Butare just opposite hotel IBIS. Butare is
always worth a visit – just drop in while you are there. As far as we
are concerned, we spent visits in Italy in order to develop trade links.
We are proud to say that the second big delivery to our fair trade
partners is on its way.
We practice a strict internal quality
control to assure our clients of the best products. All prices are fixed
by the artisans so that we are not in a position to bargain with our
clients; we appreciate your feedback so as to improve steadily.
April 2004
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