GAHAYA LINKS

Gahaya Links is a Rwandan handicraft company founded by sisters Joy Ndungutse and Janet Nkubana shortly after the 1994 genocide. What began as 27 women weaving baskets in exchange for food has grown into an award-winning social enterprise employing over 5,000 artisans across 52 cooperatives. The sisters transformed the traditional Rwandan basket—particularly the iconic Agaseke "peace basket"—into a symbol of reconciliation that now graces shelves at Macy's, Kate Spade, and Anthropologie. Operating on fair trade principles, Gahaya Links has become the leading exporter of Rwandan handicrafts and a model for women's economic empowerment in post-conflict societies. Their work proves that culture and commerce can heal wounds, restore dignity, and create lasting peace.