About Company
The Urugo Women’s Opportunity Center (WOC) in Kayonza, Rwanda, is a vibrant, self-sustaining community hub built by Women for Women International in partnership with Sharon Davis Design. Designed as a village-like complex on a gently sloping two-hectare site, it empowers women—many survivors of conflict—to heal, learn, and generate income.
🏛️ Architecture & Sustainability
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Modular village design: Dozens of pavilions with circular brick classrooms (inspired by traditional royal architecture) are arranged around a central plaza, fostering community bonds and security.
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Local materials & labor: Over 450,000 bricks were made onsite by local women, teaching them construction skills and creating an income stream.
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Eco‑systems: Roofs collect rainwater; underground cisterns supply the site. Composting toilets and biogas generators process waste into fertilizer for on-site farming .
📚 Training & Livelihoods
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Holistic programming: Women receive training in health, rights, numeracy, business, crafts, dairy/horticulture production, and English.
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Hands-on learning: The centre’s commercial farm and food-production units (yoghurt, cheese, etc.) offer practical skills and income‑generation platforms.
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Market & services: On-site lodging, café, restaurant/bar, gift shop, and market stalls provide employment and generate revenue to sustain the centre .
👩 Impact & Community
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Economic empowerment: Women gain practical skills and start small businesses—from basket weaving to dairy production—supporting families and communities .
“Grace… learned basket weaving, numeracy and business skills… she teaches other women basket weaving so that they can rebuild their lives”.
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Healing through sisterhood: Trauma-informed programming encourages shared experiences, peer support, and emotional recovery among survivors .
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Self-reliance: The centre is operated by an LLC wholly owned by Women for Women International, aiming for long-term sustainability.
📍 Location & Access
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Located about 1 hr east of Kigali, just off the RN3 near Kayonza town, the centre is easy to reach and designed to be a regional resource.
In summary:
Urugo WOC is an inspiring model where architecture meets social impact—nurturing vocational skills, business training, mutual support and environmental stewardship. Built by women, for women, it fosters empowerment at multiple levels.
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