Rwanda: The women of Gashora turn water hyacinth into an economic opportunity

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It’s midday in Bugesera District, about sixty kilometers east of Kigali, Rwanda. On the shores of Lake Mirayi in the Gashora sector, fishermen polish their damp canoes while young people fill jerrycans to water their livestock. Along the banks, the wind drives ashore greenish mats that look like uninvited guests: water hyacinth—an invasive plant native to South America that clogs waterways, depletes oxygen, and endangers aquatic life.

Victorie Mukabunani, a woman in her forties from Gashora, is a founding member of the Gashora Basket Weavers’ Cooperative (COVAGA). This morning, she stands at the water’s edge, carefully harvesting stems of water hyacinth. She says, “We used to worry about the spread of the water hyacinth. But today, hope is reborn thanks to our initiative.”

The COVAGA cooperative transforms water hyacinth from Lakes Mirayi and Rumira into handcrafted items such as baskets, mats, hats, and bags, which are sold to tourists and local buyers. For the women of COVAGA, the invasive plant has turned into an unexpected source of opportunity and income.

Ms. Mukabunani explains that the COVAGA weavers came up with the idea of replacing the banana fibers they once used for basket weaving with fibers extracted from water hyacinth stems. She adds that it all began when fishermen alerted them to a thick carpet of water hyacinth spreading across the lake. The weavers decided to collaborate with the fishermen, who now help remove the plants from the water. In return, the women share a portion of their basket sales income with them.

Once onshore, the women carefully extract the water hyacinth stems. The fibers from these stems are used for weaving. The women create a variety of durable products. In their hands, an invasive plant becomes a basket or a bag—telling a story of survival and resilience. The most active among them can earn up to 70,000 Rwandan francs per month (about $50).

The COVAGA cooperative was founded in 2006 and now unites 52 women who have increased their incomes, can afford their children’s education and healthcare, and contribute to restoring the lake’s ecosystem. Dancille Gahongayire, COVAGA’s president, recalls a time when the community watched helplessly as the lake was overtaken by water hyacinth. Fish disappeared, and fishermen lost their livelihoods. Today, she explains, women generate income from the invasive plant, while also supporting the fishermen’s work. Some members now receive orders exceeding $1,000.

This women-led approach attracted the attention of the Project for the Promotion of Small and Micro Rural Enterprises (PPMER), which trained COVAGA members in basket weaving and management. This improved the quality of their products and strengthened their cooperative’s structure. With support from a foreign donor, the cooperative acquired land and built a weaving and sales center. Today, they receive large orders that engage all members. For each product sold, 10% of the profit goes to the cooperative, and the rest to the maker.

The impact is now visible. Proud of their independence, Ms. Mukabunani says, “When you can weave and sell your products, you no longer need to ask your husband for a piece of cloth or groceries. You buy them yourself and save for tomorrow.” The women’s work has helped reduce the amount of water hyacinth in Lake Mirayi. Aquatic life is returning. The plant that was once a community problem has become a source of income for women. They have saved the lakes and created jobs for women who now contribute to their families’ incomes.

Today, the women of Gashora showcase their creations at craft fairs and even export them—turning a plague into an opportunity. On the shores of Lake Mirayi, every basket, hat, and mat stands as a testament to their ingenuity and perseverance. Ms. Gahongayire concludes: “We turn every water hyacinth stem into hope—for the lake, the fishermen, and the entire community.”