Handspun Hope

At the heart of Handspun Hope is the Rwandan widow. Handspun Hope is an initiative based on the belief that work-based solutions to poverty should be collaborative, innovative and holistic. When this approach is used, dignity is restored to individuals and they are empowered to make a lasting difference in their families and surrounding communities.

The work of Handspun Hope, however, starts with a flock of merino sheep.

In Rwanda, True Vineyard Ministries cares for a flock of merino sheep. We emphasize community involvement by providing jobs and training opportunities to care for these sheep. We employ a full-time shepherd and other assistants to keep the sheep clean, safe and healthy so that they produce the best possible merino wool.

The sheep are sheared and the wool is brought to the widow’s cooperative, whose job it is to clean the wool and through a labor-intensive effort create beautiful organic merino yarn. This yarn is also dyed using local plants such as eucalyptus and coreopsis petals.

The yarn is currently being sold through a social business called KidKnits that sells this yarn in knitting craft kits for kids in the United States.

Check them out on our Partners page for more details!