With a population of 12 million, Rwanda is one of the smallest countries in Africa. Kinyarwanda, French, English and Swahili are spoken. The country is divided between three major ethnic groups; Hutu, Tutsi and Twa. Between 1993 and 1994, the civil war killed about 800,000 people and threw two million refugees out of the country. 
Local handicrafts have played an important role in the reconstruction of the country since 1994. 
Basketry has always been very present in Rwanda, but before the war, baskets were mainly used as decoration for no profit. It was after the war that a group of about 100 women decided to start selling the baskets in local markets for few dollars. These women managed to organize themselves into cooperatives to support each other. The money earned is carefully spend on food, education and health. 
The vast majority of cooperatives are found in the Gitarama region. Some have more than 300 members who weave baskets every day from sisal, banana and other reeds. 
In Rwandan tradition, baskets are given at weddings, births and graduations. The baskets are then proudly displayed in the home as a symbol of friendship and love. As such, each basket represents a symbol. The most famous of all is the "Sunburn", also known as "hope". This image of the sun or hope reflected on the Rwandan flag represents the country's collective hope for a new dawn and a better future.