Janet Nkubana

Janet Nkubana is a Rwandan social entrepreneur, business executive, and basket weaver best known for co-founding Gahaya Links, a handicraft cooperative that coordinates the work of thousands of Rwandan women weaving baskets for sale internationally, including in the United States. She grew up in a refugee camp in Uganda after fleeing the Rwandan genocide, where she was first exposed to basket weaving by watching her mother and other women in the camp. Nkubana co-founded Gahaya Links with her sister, Joy Ndungutse, shortly after the genocide ended in 1994, initially bringing together around twenty to twenty-seven women, many of them fellow returning refugees or genocide survivors, and teaching them weaving techniques. The cooperative has since grown to encompass several thousand weavers organized into dozens of cooperatives across Rwanda, deliberately bringing together women from both Hutu and Tutsi backgrounds to work side by side, a design that gave rise to the products' popular name, "peace baskets. Under Nkubana's leadership as co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, Gahaya Links became the first Rwandan handicraft export company to benefit from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), enabling it to sell baskets into the U.S. market, and it has gone on to supply retailers including Macy's, Walmart, Anthropologie, Crate & Barrel, and Kate Spade, as well as being featured in O, The Oprah Magazine. In 2008, the organization received the Africa Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable End of Hunger, among other recognitions. Quotes On Women's Economic Empowerment and Peacebuilding "When you give a woman economic independence, you give her a voice. Weaving brought women together from both sides of the conflict to create something beautiful, earn a living, and heal our country." Janet Nkubana and Joy Ndungutse – Finding peace and economic empowerment in Rwanda through weaving Lionesses of Africa (December 2, 2014) On Global Markets and Artisanal Preservation "We were not just selling baskets; we were selling hope, dignity, and the story of Rwanda's resilience to the world." Rwandan basketmakers weave their way into Macy's CNN (June 22, 2012) On Community Resilience "Artisan work is a tool for transformation. When women earn money, they invest in their children's education, health, and their community's future." Janet Nkubana Interview Gahaya Links Rwanda YouMeWe Amplified Podcast (August 31, 2023) I was overwhelmed and humbled by the reception I got when I returned from New-York with the prize. However, people are still asking me how I got into the competition and the kind of criteria followed https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/12784/National/award-is-for-all-rwandans-a-laureate-winner ( The New Times Rwanda, Thursday, October 30, 2008) Once you earn an income you are economically empowered. You are given a voice, you can argue your values, you can argue your point, you can argue your rights. the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs lionesses of Africa(September 19, 2026) They should know what they are best at rather than seeing what others are doing. They need to know who their competitors and clients are, and give their customers good value for their money. the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs the lionesses of Africa(September 19, 2026) We are very proactive. We are strong women. We are great managers. We are great policy makers. We can be a great force for Africa. Janet Nkubana, Co-Founder and COO, Gahaya Links, Rwanda you,me,we podcast(September 19,2026) We take pride in the fact that we are a socially responsible firm and believe that giving back to our community and sharing our wealth of knowledge and experience is the only way of building a healthy and economically sound future. the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs the lionesses of Africa(September 19, 2026) In our weaving groups we have women who survived genocide, we have women who have husbands in prison, we have girls who lost everyone who are heading households. Through weaving we manage to have everyone under one roof sharing and working together. the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs the lionesses of Africa(September 19, 2026) The biggest impact is in unity and reconciliation of Rwandans. Also we helped restore the dignity of Rwandan women and their values. Janet Nkubana, Co-Founder and COO, Gahaya Links, Rwanda you,me,we podcast (September 19,2026) “People never used to think that women were able businesswomen or able business managers.” https://www.ipsnews.net/2008/08/development-peace-baskets-bring-hope-to-rwandan-women/ “Implement any idea you have – talk about it. Be free and say what you think, share what you want to achieve. Use the partnerships and nurture them.” https://podcast.youmewe.ca/janet-nkubana/ “If you go to Rwanda today, there are so many young boys and young girls who are not job seekers, but job creators. All of these initiatives – they are creating jobs. When you teach me a skill I will utilize it to make an income and maybe employ another person.” https://www.lionessesofafrica.com/blog/2015/8/13/quote-of-the-day External links Janet Nkubana Category:Living people Category:Businesspeople from Rwanda Category:Rwandan women in business Category:Social entrepreneurs