Memberships

The COPABU is member of the "Butare Federation of Artisans' Associations" (FAAB) in which it plays a leading role due its relative high economic importance in the region. It occupies one of the nine seats in the FAAB Directors' Committee. Some members of COPABU are also organised in the same federation (see www.pasud-faab.org.rw for more details).

COPABU is also a member of honour (to be precise: member N°. 1000) of the Bottega Solidale (see www.bottegasolidale.it) , the Italian fair trade import institution, which by the way is so far the biggest single client of the Butare-based cooperative. Both partners are linked through numerous mutual visits, which frequently take place. In March 2004 two COPABU craftsmen accompanied by one FAAB staff visited Genoa and some surrounding cities where fair trade magazines sell their handicraft products.

The next step would be to apply for IFAT (International Fair Trade Association) membership in order to get its fair trade business certified.