The Together Partnership

Established in 2007 by a group of Scottish businesspeople with first hand experience and knowledge of Rwanda, the Together Partnership is a catalyst for change. It is a non-profit organisation and working to transform the lives of people in Rwanda by enabling individuals and businesses to create partnerships with - and provide financial backing, expertise and other support to Rwandan-based enterprises.

We understand the massive challenges in Rwanda and seek to use business principles to bring about social change. Our priority at present is to support the innovative Rwandan company Ikirezi, which has strong Scottish links and is achieving so much (socially and economically) for so many people in the country. Other Rwandan companies are being chosen for their capacity to transform the lives of those who work for and with them.

But this is not just a one-way street. We believe that we also offer real benefits for companies here, ranging from demonstrating corporate social responsibility through to staff motivation and retention, professional development, marketing and PR opportunities, job exchanges, cultural links and much more.
 

Professional Development in Rwanda

What's in it for companies here?

Involvement with the Together Partnership offers many benefits.

• Demonstrate social responsibility – and change lives:
• Demonstrate to customers, clients, staff, potential staff, suppliers and the wider marketplace that yours is a company with a social conscience
• Get involved in an initiative which really does change lives (both in Rwanda and here).

Develop your staff:

• Tackle challenges faced by a company in a very different economic environment
• Develop teambuilding, fundraising and other business skills
• Network to share challenges with other Scottish companies in the Together Partnership community
• Participate in job exchanges with sponsored company
• Encourage personal development through working with a Rwandan company.

Marketing and public relations:

• Raise your profile and gain substantial marketing opportunities
• Display the Together Partnership certificate in public area of office
• Use the 'Supporter/Member' logo on corporate stationery and marketing material
• Get coverage in the Together Partnership newsletter and website.

Be part of the Together Partnership network:

• Attend regular events on issues relating to the Partnership and its work
• Share specific challenges faced by a sponsor company with other members of the network

Cultural links:

• Foster strong partnerships between the two countries and increase cultural awareness

 
What's in it for companies in Rwanda?

The benefits to the Rwandan companies of being involved in the Together Partnership are:

• Yearly donation to fund growth
• Practical support, for example:
• Solving business problems
• Providing services and expertise
• Mentoring
• Job exchange for a proposed individual within the Rwandan company enriches professional, cultural and practical knowledge of the UK and its challenges
• Promotes self-worth, community spirit and entrepreneurship for staff
• The multiplier effect of providing money to local entrepreneur, ie business success contributes to more and more economic and social success for area.

Why Rwanda?

In 100 days of genocide in 1994 more than 800,000 Rwandans were brutally murdered. Since then, many beacons of hope have arisen. We hope that the Together Partnership is a small example.

The background to the organisation comes from the genocide through Scottish nurse, Lesley Bilinda. She worked in Rwanda from 1988 and married a Rwandan teacher and pastor, Charles Bilinda. On holiday in Kenya when the genocide began, Lesley escaped almost certain death. Sadly, Charles was not so fortunate.

After spending time back in Scotland, Lesley returned to Rwanda and set up an educational trust in memory of her husband. One of the first recipients of support from the trust was Nicholas Hitimana and his family, who were brought to Scotland in 1995. Nicholas studied at the University of Edinburgh, achieving his masters degree then going on to complete a PhD in agriculture.

Nicholas returned to Rwanda determined to bring reconciliation in some way by using his skills. The result was the creation of the pioneering agribusiness Ikirezi (www.ikirezi.com which now employs around 800 orphans, widows and small farmers.

Through our contact with Lesley Bilinda and Nicholas Hitimana, the Together Partnership was born. Now it is working to support the Ikirezi project and other Rwandan companies, to build partnerships between like-minded companies here in Scotland and in Rwanda, and to transform lives in both countries.

To book now, call us at 08455213747 or click here to fill the form.