We entered Rwanda in March 2006 with the goal of developing businesses for women aspiring to break out of poverty and donor dependency. Decades of donor dependency and substandard expectations have crippled Africa and we were determined to play a part in breaking that cycle.

Shortly after arriving, we met a group of 37 women, determined to work their way out of poverty and oppression. Then we listened. And we listened some more. We talked, ate, prayed and struggled together. Their stories were heart wrenching, but still so full of hope; profound. We did our best to leave our assumptions and American ideals at the border and our experience was nothing short of profound.

They told us that they did not want us to go back to America and tell stories about their past, about the genocide or abuse. They wanted to be recognized as entrepreneurs, artisans and successful mothers. They had grown weary of American's using their tragic pasts as a way to garner donor dollars. They wanted a voice to tell their story of beauty, hope and happiness, despite all they had been through. This is a cry we have heard consistently throughout Africa, yet the western world continues to hear only the stories of destruction, poverty, disease and corruption.

It is from this experience that KEZA, meaning "beautiful" in the native tongue of Rwanda, was born. We created a brand that showcases the beauty and excellence of developing nations through the art of the people. We made a commitment; we would not treat them as charity cases; we would not let their past define their future; we would give them a voice and a path to experiencing dignity.

In June of 2010, after four years of research and development, we took a step back to take a fresh look at our organization. After learning how we can best serve the developing world, it was time to analyze our experiences, trim the fat and dial in on our strengths.

We have always followed a simple method for development, and it is encapsulated best in this poem.

"Go to the people. Live among them. Learn from them. Love them. Start with what you know. Build on what they have. But of the best leaders, when their task is done, the people will remark 'we have done it ourselves.' " --Chinese Poem

The women we serve want to be known as business women, not aid recipients or charity cases. Therefore it is essential that KEZA be known as a legitimate business by the vendors we work with. Otherwise we are not taken seriously and our products are often never even given a chance.

Simply put, if we are going to do business, we need to do real business. We have an opportunity to set a new example and hopefully inspire other businesses to trade with developing nations. The time to transition from non-profit to social venture was upon us.

There are a multitude of great aid agencies doing exceptional development work, but they lack the ability and resources to create a brand that elevates their partners and the countries they work in. In all of our years of development work, we've noticed some consistent deficits in the aid world; branding, celebrity, design. Conveniently, these are the areas KEZA excels at most.