Self Help Program

TEKI Deaf-Mute association visit by Emily Shaffer
Tuesday, April 29th, 2008

I visited the TEKI Deaf-Mute Association on Tuesday, April 29^th, 2008.  TEKI has received a grant of 1m Rwf, about $2000 from the US Ambassador’s Self Help Fund.  The group was founded a few years ago by Ephrasie (?), who felt called to provide something productive for her deaf family friend to do.  Now serving about 10-15 deaf-mute participants and non-deaf helpers, the group specializes in producing sweaters and other knitwear for sale, mainly to schools.  They are hoping to be able to branch out, gain more expertise in fashionable designs, and capture a wider market.

TEKI association members using their knitting machines

When I visited, TEKI had recently moved into a spacious bright new location at the private St. Patrick’s school in Kikuciro.  The school had made a significant order of 800 uniform sweaters and has allowed them to use a spare classroom while they work.  The group hopes to stay on in the space even when the order is complete.  TEKI association used the grant money to purchase special knitting machines that speed up the process of producing mass orders considerably.  The members I encountered during my visit were the experienced knitters and sewers, beginners were at home while the group focused on completing the order.  Each member receives Rwf 800, about $1.50, per sweater.
TEKI Association plans to show their wares at the Private Sector Federation’s annual trade expo this October, and would appreciate any other opportunities to gain exposure.  They can produce fashionable wool parkas, bathrobe and slipper sets in traditional cloth, and many other souvenir type products.  TEKI’s challenges include a lack of consistency in their orders (during the dry season they have little sweater business), a need for training on more varied and complex designs and access to magazines and pattern books for new, modern ideas.
If you would like to order a sweater, garment, or tailor-made cloth gift, or might have extra fashion magazines that could be donated to TEKI, please contact Ephrasie at tel. 250 08842076 or 250 08569018.  You can also take her a sample of what you would like copied.