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Euphrazia Gervazi
Basket Making

Ephazia was sponsored by a business partner from the US to expand her handcraft business. She learned basket weaving several years ago but only started to commercialize baskets in the past two years, when BUWEA purchased her baskets for the Annual Basket Sale in the US. Ephazia’s baskets are also for sale at the BUWEA learning center located in Bukoba town.

The investment she received of $180.00 USD from her business partner was used to buy materials (raffia, natural dyes, grass, and needles). She also used part of the money to buy a goat; aside from her basket weaving business Ephazia also sells milk and fish that she purchases from local fishermen.

Ephazia is one of the best basket weavers in Bukoba and she really wants to expand her handcraft business as well as her farming production. The challenges are many since the women in Bukoba lack any capital for investment in small businesses and don’t have much training in business management.