First taste of profit!

After the books were ready, it was time to distribute the money. The committee announced that on Tuesday all of the women could come to receive their payment. Tuesday morning the President, Umutoni, and the Treasurer, Drocella, went to the bank to pick up their cash. Chantal and I went over to pick them up and when we arrived found out that their bank had allocated the money to a local bee keeping cooperative!! Unbelievable!! Chantal went in to sort it all out. Once they had reallocated the money, the bank proceeds to tell us that they don't have enough cash in the bank to cover their withdraw. At this point it was 12:00 and the women had been waiting since the morning to collect their funds. The bank said they wouldn't have the money until 2. We left. Chantal had to go explain to 100 women why there was no money yet (photo is of the room full of women). 2 and a half hours later we arrived at their main stock location with Rwf 1,300,000. About US$2,600 in cash. The women clapped and shouted in joy! 4 and a half hours later in complete darkness except for the light of my computer screen we completed distribution of all of the money we had brought with us. It was an intense day. A lot of the women had to face the reality that the materials they were given were only a loan and that they didn't get paid for their baskets unless their quality was good. A few women left unhappy, but the majority of the women were very happy to have a decent chunk of cash to bring home. Our most active women were paid up to US$75. In some cases this could be a third of what a household sees in a year and these ladies made that much in 6 weeks. It was incredibly inspiring and now its time to bust my butt to get more orders! Happy to say we just got another one for 900 pieces!