Meet Songa Designs CEO to know how Rwandan Women benefit from Jewelry Designs

{Women in Rwanda are benefiting from different handmade objects that are created by using locally sourced, natural materials to give designs that make eco fashion desirable.}

IGIHE’s Ange de la Victoire Dusabemungu has met Sarah Sternberg, the CEO of Songa Designs International which produces different types of jewelries made in Rwanda and she has explained to us how Songa Designs works with Rwandan women to fight against poverty at the same time fighting for Economic independence.

Below are excerpts of Interview.

{{IGIHE}}: {{May you introduce yourself to me?}}

{{Sarah}}: Yes, I am Sarah Sternberg. I am Co-Founder and CEO of Songa Designs International.
{{
IGIHE}}: {{You said Songa Designs International, Why the name “Songa”?}}

{{Sarah}}: Songa means”summit” (Isonga) in Kinyarwanda, and it means “Continue forward” in Swahili. So, we just felt that was perfect for the kind of business we want to build and we do believe that job creation is in line with poverty alleviation and it puts women in their part forward to economic independence.

{{IGIHE}}: {{Briefly tell us about Songa Designs International?}}

{{Sarah}}: Songa Designs works with women cooperatives throughout Rwanda and we take collected jewelry from North America and ship it here. It is assembled and we create them into new designs and sell them to the overseas.

{{IGIHE: Why don’t you use Jewelry from Rwanda?}}

{{Sarah}}: We can take jewelry from Rwanda absolutely.

{{IGIHE: Tell us about Songa products?}}

{{Sarah}}: So we take indigenous materials such Sisal leaf, banana leaf, cow bone, Fabric materials, etc. We recreate those materials to jewelry designs and then we have collected jewelry from women all over North America and that’s how jewelry is combined and makes it very different and unique designs.
We do also take into consideration Rwandan culture when we are creating jewelry designs.

{{IGIHE: What is your target market? }}

{{Sarah}}: Our target market is the other women in North America. And initially we target market in North America.

{{IGIHE: Why have you invested in this type of Business?}}

{{Sarah: }} I believe I have talent and I also believe in creating jobs for women in Rwanda who want to work and I want have an economic independence.

{{IGIHE: Where did you get inspirations for the designs you created?}}

{{Sarah:}} My co-founder who is now living in Thailand has done a lot of Songa designs and she does get a lot of inspirations from the Rwandan culture and working with women

{{IGIHE: How do you select the kind of jewelry you want to design?}}

{{Sarah: }} We do a lot of market research to see where is the trend, where women wearing, what is the target market is wearing and then try to create jewelry that would attract them.

{{IGIHE: What are your plans for the future?}}

{{Sarah:}} The plans for the future is to build and grow Songa, continue working with Rwandans and build store here in Rwanda and go to other countries where other women are looking for a dignified income and look for other materials that we can make and many other accessories.

{{IGIHE: What is your message to Rwandan women? }}

{{Sarah:}} If you believe in yourself and you have the support of those around you, you would be able to do anything you want.

{{IGIHE:}} Thank you for the Interview.

{{Sarah:}} Thank you too.

{{angedelavictoire@igihe.com}}