Showtime ! We have arrived at the end of the second week of the mission for Exchangevzw and BNP Paribas Benevolab. It is today that I have to present the conclusions of my findings. A short version of the strategic plan. Yesterday morning I had prepared the presentation before going to Rutsereco. It was showtime ! Last night I had gone to bed way to late as I was talking to a hotel guest about the genocide. He told me how his entire family was killed. (I will dedicate a post to his story.) So when I woke up this morning, I was tired. I rushed to get perfectly dressed, heels and makeup. We were back on Day 1, power dressing was necessary. The board of administration would be present and Jean Pierre, a representative of AMIR (Association of Microfinance Agencies in Rwanda). The meeting was scheduled for 8 o'clock. I ran out the Centre D'Acceuille with my heels on, up the hill trying to catch a taxibus. I was sweating before I got in. I was scared to be late but the matatu God’s are on my side. No one got in on the way and I arrived at 7:15. Numerien wasn’t there yet. Yes! I beat him again. At 7:45 he arrives and tells me: ‘you are a morning person’! This time he meant it! He asked me to prepare for the meeting because it has moved to 9 o'clock. I thought to myself Ohhh nooo! 9:15 Nobody there. Numerien said that the President of the tea Union had given permission that I could start. The manager of the Pfunda tea cooperative joins in, the manager of the microfinance agency joins in as well and we start. Surprisingly I had no stress. The entire plan and its French words were imprinted in my head. The words roll down my tongue. Augustin joins in and Jean Pierre from AMIR arrives. I am on a roll! At the end of the presentation it was suggestion and question time. Jean Pierre gave us really good suggestions in setting up the microfinance for tea farmers branch. The head of Pfunda Cooperative wanted me as a consultant to draft him a strategic plan too. I received farewell gifts and we headed out for drinks. Jean Pierre had a vehicle with driver and without thinking I opt for that vehicle. My time with taxibus had come to an end. We arrive at a motel and order drinks. It’s not even 12 and the Mutzig starts flowing. Mutzig beer with lemon Fanta. That’s a first. I discuss with Jean Pierre intensely BNP Paribas relations and the end of the mission. Jean Pierre left for Kigali while we continued my farewell lunch. Brochettes with French fries. My favorite. Nausicaa had advised me not to eat grilled anymore but I couldn’t resist. This time it was not organs, at least that’s what I think. I say my goodbye’s and inform them that they will receive the final strategic plan in 2 weeks. I will adapt it according to the new suggestions and the information from AMIR. I am included in the strategic plan and will have a lot of following up to do. Hence, I receive the title in their organization as Business Development Consultant for the Tea Farmers Union of Crete Congo Nil. My work here isn’t done. I thank them for the lovely gifts. They apologized they couldn’t find any tea from Pfunda. Green leaves only. It’s hard to find the local tea, everything is for export and Rwandans don’t drink tea. It’s no problem for me, I have learned a lot of new things on this mission and will stay on board. One last time in the taxibus to get my stuff at the Centre and a last meeting with RIM. Reseaux Microfinance. The meeting was short but I arranged for a second one. Finally at the Centre, I pack my bags and can’t believe the amount of stuff. I have given away so much already and yet the number of bags seem to grow. Is it the gifts ? I don’t know. While I was packing my stuff, I notice all of a sudden troops of mini roaches crawling from under the mattress! I thought to myself; this is the final straw, I got to go. I woke up this morning with an entire body full of bites. I have no one to blame but myself. I have an impregnated fitted sheet for mattresses. I had removed it to go to Rutsereco and when I returned to Gisenyi, I was too lazy to put it back. No one else but Francine to blame.

Numerien and I, each with a suitcase in the hand + 2 purses and 2 backpacks walk down to the Serena at the Kivu Lake. The hotel is 5 minutes walking distance from the centre. Numerien was acting strange because his request for a small mortgage was refused for the second time in the Bank of Kigali. He was stressed all of a sudden. I felt bad and tried to give him some advice. We ran into the special representative for sanitation of the district, a native of the tea fields. He advised me to include day cares into strategic plan of the union. Why didn’t I think of it myself. Perfect! More work! Arriving at the Serena Hotel, a resort looking type of hotel, Numerien gets anxious. He doesn’t want to come inside . He said the hotel is too expensive. I said I want to buy him a drink. We give my stuff to the butlers, whom X-ray all the bags. Tight security in this hotel which is actually not needed in Rwanda. We immediately receive hot towels and drinks. I want to go to my roommmmm…. Numerien is nervous. He doesn’t like the setting. I told him someone had hooked me up with the room for free. I didn’t want him to know I was paying these prices because he would have dragged me out. Lol Finally in the room. wow I forgot about tv’s, a bath, ohhhh A/C !!! I never appreciated luxury as much as today! I have normal wifi- no more 45 minutes per upload! We are so spoiled and I am grateful. I need a mission like this every year. I am ordering room service, paying 15 USD for a well deserved glass of wine. Let my 1 week of holiday begin !

Francine Carron October 2, 2015

Official photo with Augustin, the president of the tea Union. Having written the strategic plan, I will have to continue to follow up and execute certain items in order to help the tea farmers out of poverty! I am on board now as Business Development Consultant.

Francine Carron October 2, 2015

I will miss this #microentrepreneur I used to buy 8 bottles of water a day from her to quench the thirst caused by the #malaria tablets LOL She said I boosted her business these past 14 days #Rwanda #pfunda #nyundo

Francine Carron October 2, 2015

Ready to present a synthesis of the strategic plan for the #tea Union at #pfunda #nyundo #Rwanda … Why did the meeting room like a funeral home 😂? #tumblr #blog #microfinancemasala

Francine Carron October 2, 2015

Tomorrow is the final day to present my strategic plan. I will present it to the board of directors, cooperative managers and the direction of Amir. This presentation will be at 8 AM in the Pfunda offices. I am happy it isn’t 6 or 7 AM. This means that tomorrow is my last day with the tea Union before I go on a 1 week holiday in Rwanda. I arranged for my mom to join me on the Rwanda tour. I found a direct flight with Rwandair from Lagos. I haven’t seen her for 4 years so we are both excited. Today, the second last day basically, we head to go to Rubaya. This was another 4 hours in a taxibus. I can’t handle that anymore ! We were at 2400 meters and I had difficulties talking. The altitude was killing me. I explained to Numerien that we live at sea level and the altitude might cause the complications. He didn’t really understand but said hurry up finish your business and we’ll return to Gisenyi. Numerien said he was surprised to see me at the office today. I was on time and was working on my laptop outside. He was half an hour late :) He said he thought I was going to call in sick or tired and would not have mind. I was like what!? I am dead you should have told me you were dead too. We could have both stayed at home! I made it clear to him that this is the reason why I incorporated in the business plan that the union needs their own vehicle. You can’t just be sitting in overpopulated, overheated taxibus’ and expect people to work without a problem. Numerien agreed also, he got out a town before me and told me to stay awake or else I’d miss my stop. I am going to prepare for tomorrow and wish me all the best of luck!

Francine Carron October 1, 2015

2 day trip Rutsiro - Day 2

Francine Carron October 1, 2015

At 5:15 in the morning, Numerien knocked on my door. Here we go again ! Madame Francine we have to leave at 6 AM, will you be ready ? You want hot water ?Numerien ! Go Away! I was planning to get up 5:50 to be ready at 6! I don’t want water!!!! Ok Madame Francine. 6:00 o'clock Francine are you ready ? Shit! I forgot to get up! Numerien give me 5 minutes I will be readyyyyy! We were heading for a long walk to the town. Rutsiro looks like the Flemish country side. It is a very charming landscape and the buildings are very religiously Flemish. The school in town was also called Stella Maris. Go figure. We arrive in town, ready to take the taxibus but the driver wasn’t there yet. I thought to myself, Numerien you are in Africa; why did you expect him to be on time?? If it was up to me, we would have arrived late and been technically on time. I don’t know how he survives. Numerien must be waiting all the time and going loco. He got pissed off the wait so he wanted to go eat an omelette. We enter a very basic place and I didn’t want to risk eating anything. Numerien promised me it would be safe. Go ahead, I say. He had been talking about this omelette lady for 2 days. He craves her omelette all the time. The lady asked me omelette with chapatti? Chapatti Yes go ahead, for me a chapatti omelette. Numerien didn’t lie; the omelette was good but the chapatti wasn’t all that. In the meanwhile the taxi driver had arrived and we had to go. Numerien said no keep eating. He is the one late, he can’t leave without us. It’s our only way out of town. Taxibus started his engine, we ran outside. He wasn’t going to wait. Again, Numerien TIA. Numerien wanted me to have the best seat, right next to the driver. It was the worst seat ever. I fell asleep on the driver, my foot fell on his gas and my sleeping bag on the break. This was just the beginning of the ride. I was going to sit there for 7 hours. From 7 AM to 2 PM in a matatu. This was for me a hard limit. The road is impossible and with an overly packed taxibus, my mood began to change. It wasn’t until someone got on with chickens that I was getting really pissed off. My limit had been reached! I was tired, uncomfortable, suffocating and the stank of the chickens was becoming unbearable. Two chickens got lose and were acting a fool underneath the seats. A baby was crying and an old woman was sick. I gave her strepsils as I couldn’t handle the throat scraping and spitting through the window anymore. There was no end to this ride. I told Numerien that I wasn’t going to get off at Pfunda but go straight home. This was too much and it has broken me. I still have a plan to finish and right now I am beyond tired. Numerien wanted me to cash my DSA check but I couldn’t care anymore. I needed a shower and food. I arrived in the Centre in Gisenyi at 3pm. I entered the shower but the water was off. The day was getting worse and worse. After being in the shower for an hours trying to get the drops out, while handwashing my clothes. ( tip from the Dutch girls.) I went for late lunch. All of a sudden I feel a hand on my back. Numerien ! No ! Seriously! We have to go cash your check. FML! Fine! But first Francine, I noticed you got a little uncomfortable so I am giving you your going away present early. Go open it in your room, Numerien says. I go to my room and open the gift. I got so happy, it’s a Rwandan panier ! I really wanted one and he knew that. Considering the last taxibus experience, that was his way to soothe the misery. I thanked him gratefully but then he said take off the African shorts and change into long pants. There we go again ! Ugh! Obedient as I am on this mission, I change my shorts and head out to the bank. It was a 2 hour wait to cash my check. My head kept bopping as I was so sleepy. I didn’t even want the check ! Ugghhhh…. Back at the lodgement, he said we have to hide our money. No one may see it! Aghghh, Numerien this is Rwanda. No one steals here! It’s safer than freaking Dubai. Goodbye I see you tomorrow at 7AM. No blogging for me. The tiredness was too much.

#tea weighing at the collection station 36kg of #tea. The woman gets paid 0.04 cent per kilo for this #exploitation ! The factory subtracts 10% for loss due to humidity … wtf?? She did the work no ?.The tea cooperative has #fairtrade certificates I don’t call this fairtrade! I am seriously starting to have my doubts about #fairtrade #rainforestalliance #pfunda

Francine Carron September 24, 2015

Who plucks #tea best ?? #pfunda #Rwanda #respect (at Nyundo, Rubavu)

Francine Carron September 24, 2015

Francine Carron September 21, 2015

Day 1 at work: The real deal Pfunda Tea Company

After our van -breakdown debacle I finally get to see the Pfunda Tea Company which is right across from the Cooperative. I meet with the head of the factory and he leads me into part of the process of making me tea. The cooperative side of Pfunda was already explained to me this morning by the manager. (On the motorbike in the photo)

The factory manager is a very clever guy whose father is a tea farmer. He knows every detail about tea. He explains to me how the tea is collected in the fields on the farmer’s own territory and transported to Pfunda. The fully loaded truck goes and stands on the scale. (As in photo) The truck gets unloaded by workers in blue and the empty truck goes back on the scale to calculate the difference. I thought that the tea leaves smelled great but according to the factory manager the smell wasn’t a good sign. He said that is a sign of lower quality. Samples are taken from the tea and analyzed in the weighing office. A score of 66 is premium quality. The tea goes to the first level for drying. The factory has 290 workers and Pfunda about 2000 pluckers.

There is also a huge storage facility of wood for the ovens to dry the tea. This morning I had read about CTC tea and orthodox tea and I noticed CTC equipment. I will receive more information on that tomorrow.

So far I have received quite limited information even though they keep telling me: We will tell you everything; but everything seems very marginal. The task to develop a strategic business plan is becoming more and more difficult. I have created an agenda to visit all the cooperation in the hope I will informally receive more information. I have gone through the filing cabinet in the office and this is also very limited. Numerien keeps telling me that they are in embryological stage and the union is ill. I am the doctor and I need to prescribe them medicine. I want to do my best especially as for the union having me here has a big financial impact. They rather not eat and have me eat.

I was also supposed to create a framework for Microfinance and microsavings within the Union but now I found out that the Pfunda Cooperative has its own saving and credit union. Things are starting to become very confusing… I hope this will soon all be cleared.

The President of the Union, Augustin also a teacher in primary school came to pay me a visit in the office. He was a very friendly and smart chap. We ran down my schedule and agreed on the costs of my mission. He wants us to sign a contract now. Augustin has a mandate for 3 years as President and still has a year to go. Augustin (Next to the motorbike in the picture.) also has tea farm land. I asked Numerien if there were still farm plots available but his answer is no. The land in Rwanda is so fertile it can grow anything. What a luxury !

Francine Carron September 21, 2015

First Day at work: Lunch time

We decided to go to town to buy a phone. The SIM card I received isn’t a microsim. I knew this was going to happen and even wrote about not forgetting to bring a small Nokia that fits a regular SIM. Well I forgot to bring the Nokia so I need another phone. I will now be carrying 3 phones and 4 numbers. In town we bought a Teco phone. Teco seems to be a big phone brand out here. I bought a basic Nokia type of phone that supports facebook and costed me 10000 Rwandan Francs. That is about 13 USD ! Good thing I didn’t buy my phone in Belgium. This model would be 25 euro. A good smartphone costs about 40 euro. Isn’t that fantastic ?

I noticed that Rwanda is not expensive at all. Taxi’s, food, phones, etc are cheap. This allows for Rwanda to have consumption and an increasing economy. This is much better than Liberia for example where the average salary is 60 USD a month and a basic phone cost 40 USD. Many people can’t even afford a bag of rice at 80 USD a month. Rwanda is different the country is affordable to its people. It’s not like Liberia or even Nigeria in that matter, where life can pretty much only be afforded by the rich. I have seen beggars here in Gisenyi but it is very very limited to what I am used to see in Africa. If Rwanda keeps continuing this road it will be a very well developed place within a decade. Roads are being constructed in the countryside. A lot of new villa type houses are being constructed by the local population. It is a nice sight. I give another high five to the Kagame regime!

Buying a phone with Numerien is so detailed. He wants everything to be perfect and he got me an extra deal of 800 free talking seconds. (Never have I seen phone companies charging in seconds. But it’s good because you can recharge for less than a dollar; again affordability is key here.) Numerien wants me to be happy and receive the best he can give. Numerien impresses me more and more everyday. He is so well organized and structured. I am starting to think he has OCD… Lol

At 1pm we drove back to the city in another jam packed bus. I couldn’t see a thing and didn’t even know where Numerien was sitting. As you can see from the photo one guy had to hang from the window and I was sitting on half a butt cheek. The bus was overloaded and I was convinced it was going to break down. I felt really hot and had the feeling my toes were on fire. I started to think maybe the engine is underneath my feet and something is really wrong. The heat became unbearable while we were trying to get across another hill. Yep my doom scenario happened; the bus shut down and we started rollingggggggggg backward down the hill. He finally managed to stop rolling backward into a dirt road. No one seemed to care and stayed on the bus. They lifted the first row seats and yes the engine was underneath my foot. (See photo) So I wasn’t crazy! My feet were literally on FIRE! While fixing the van half of the people stayed on the bus. I thought that was so dangerous… After half an hour we decided to leave and hop on another jam packed bus. I really want to take moto-taxi as it faster but Numerien doesn’t think it’s safe plus it costs triple the price.

Arrived back to the Centre Francois Xavier for lunch I decided I wanted to eat African food. All I see on the menu’s here is kind of Belgian food. I assume this is a result of Belgian colonisation. I am not in the mood for steak or stews nor French fries or purée. There is one African dish casava pasta, so I order it. It wasn’t spicy at all, so I added the lovely African Chilli pepper. Hmmmmmm

I am happy I have a phone number so I don’t have to use my Belgian private number anymore. This has costed me 100 euro already in a few days.

Back to work.

Francine Carron September 21, 2015

Day 2, First morning of work: The selfiestick !

Numerien, the coordinator of Union Theicoles de Crete Congo Nil was supposed to come get me at 9:00 o'clock to go to work together. I woke up around 7 AM but as usual I decided to laze around for a bit because I still got 2 hours to go. Before I know it’s 8:15 and I start my everyday morning headless chicken routine. This is my version of a quick shower, hair and makeup. At 8:30 I am already ordering ordering a cheese omelette and by 8:45 I have completed my breakfast. Hooray I am still on time. I was wrong. Numerien had beaten me again on the clock. He was already waiting in the lobby. He is so freaking punctual I will have to step up my clock game.

Dressed with a white formal shirt, lose pants that I bought at a microStart microcredit customer and my Valentino heels, we head out to the office. The reason why I am wearing heels and decided to dress up formally is that power dressing is still very common in Africa. You have to be well dressed at the office if you want to be a well respected lady and the men always wear shirts with or without tie. I assumed it would be the same here in Gisenyi.

In order to get to work we had to cross a few hills and hop in a taxi bus. This bus was so packed that I didn’t even see an available seat. Yet we wormed ourselves in there. To make matters worse a pregnant lady jumped in…. (See photos) I don’t mind all of this as I experienced this ‘jampacked bus situation’ before in Nigeria but Rwanda is a hilly country and those vans can barely make it over the hills. I was scared we would roll completely backwards down the hill. Oh the thoughts that were racing through my head…

After 45 minutes we finally arrived at the office. (This journey by car would be 15 minutes) In the bus I had unpacked my jivo selfiestick and decided to try it out. Numerien loved it and immediately before entering the office everyone wanted to try the selfiestick. No one had seen this before even though everyone has a smartphone here. A business opportunity immediately jumped to my mind! (See photos above)

Numerien shows me his modest office first and then we go visit the manager of the Pfunda Tea company named Niyonizeye Claude Medard. He is a very friendly man but doesn’t say much. So I decided to lead the conversation by asking many questions about the Pfunda Tea Cooperative. I found out they are labelled fair trade by Forest Alliance and are the third best tea producer in Rwanda. The manager explains to me the tea making process which gave me food for thought to work out my agenda for the next few days.
Numerien and I return to his office and I get to meet Rwicaninyoni Jean de Dieu, 27 year old who is the accountant of the tea Union. Rwicaninyoni was also impressed by the selfiestick and wanted to try it out. After a long photo session of trying out my iPhone, Apple laptop and selfiestick; we decided to go into town.

Arrival in Kigali: Part 2 - Chez Lando When I walked out the airport both the organisation that I am going to be working for UTCCN (Union theicoles de la Crete Congo Nil) and the driver of Chez Lando (my friend Nausicaa’s mom is the owner) were awaiting me. Numerien Nsengumuremyi (UTCCN) & Cyrille Mwumvaneza (local representative of Exchangevzw) brought me as I had previously requested to Anne Marie and Joseph (my friend’s parents) and owners of Chez Lando Hotel in Kigali. Anne Marie Katengwa is such an impressive woman. She is tall, beautiful, kind, classy and a real business woman. I was so happy to see her and she immediately made me feel home. Joseph (my friend’s father and Anne Marie’s husband) is unbelievably friendly, welcoming and heartwarming. Both Anne Marie and Joseph are very highly educated Rwandans. Joseph even speaks Dutch ! That really caught me off guard. He said he hadn’t spoken it in a long time but yet he was fluent! Joseph had lived, travelled and done business all over Europe. He knew every detail about Belgium and studied in Swiss. (@ Nausicaa if you are reading this: your parents are fantastic!) Anne Marie made sure I was at easy showed me the guest room as you can see from the picture above is beautiful. A large beautifully decorated room with view on an amazing garden. I took a picture (see above) of a peacock looking animal but I wasn’t sure what it was… anyone ?? In any case it makes a lot of noise. It sounds like the battery of a dying phone ;) The family, Numerien, Cyrille and I were served delicious food. We all talked for a few hours. (I found out that Cyrille speaks German and studied in Canada.) Another polyglot in the room! Numerien and Cyrille were very happy to have met the owners of Chez Lando through me. I am sure Cyrille will stay in touch with them. I had brought everyone gifts: Godiva chocolates for Numerien and Cyrille, a poncho for Anne Marie and two wines for Joseph (a true wine connoisseur). During our conversation Anne- Marie informed me about her hotel across the street (Chez Lando) of which I had a glimpse. I found out that Chez Lando is so much more than a hotel and everyone should know. Now why should anyone stay in Chez Lando when travelling to Kigali or Rwanda ? Let me give you 4 good reasons: 1. It’s a family run hotel in Rwanda by Rwandans. 2.The atmosphere is very welcoming and the owner (Anne Marie) immediately brings everyone at ease. 3. The hotel’s food is amazing and the place is unbelievable clean. 4. Anne Marie supports entire communities trough this hotel. How ? All products used in the restaurant are locally and ecologically produced on their own 3 ha farmland. They have an entire team of people working on this field. Besides growing their own crops they also buy other locally and ecologically grown crops from female cooperatives!! Yes Anne Marie supports many women cooperatives. The products sold in the boutique are also from local farmers with fair trade labels. The 84 bedroom hotel and executive apartment owner employs many people and also provides traineeships. Every year they take multiple interns from the hotel management schools and identify future potential. Many of these students are offered a job upon graduation at Chez Lando. The work atmosphere is fantastic as everyone aims at pleasing the customer while maintaining a familial feeling. I am sure there is so much more to Chez Lando but these are already good reasons to spend your next stay at this resident hotel in Kigali. Hope to see you there! Here is the link to the hotel and support Rwanda entrepreneurship !

Francine Carron September 20, 2015