About Us

Hands of Mothers empowers women globally through education and economic empowerment. Since its founding in 2007, Hands of Mothers (originally known as Manos de Madres) has created sustainable business opportunities for over 1,200 women and young adults in Honduras, South Africa, and Rwanda. These entrepreneurs and cooperative members have not only improved their own lives, but also those of more than 4,000 children and family members. 

In 2009, Hands of Mothers began a collaboration with the Rwandan HIV/AIDS organization, WE-ACTx - Women’s Equity in Access to Care and Treatment - to develop income generation opportunities for their beneficiaries. WE-ACTx was created in early 2004 in response to the need to provide access to antiretroviral therapy for the survivors of genocidal rape in Rwanda. WE-ACTx For Hope now offers highly integrated medical and psychosocial services to women and children living with HIV/AIDS. Hands of Mothers began paying school fees and providing supplies for the children of WE-ACTx beneficiaries in 2018 through our Education Initiative. We currently fund over 160 children annually from PreK through secondary and vocational school. Our experience in Rwanda has shown that education and income generation are central to physical and psychological well being and to carving sustainable pathways out of poverty.

Hands of Mothers in Rwanda was awarded nonprofit registration status in Rwanda in October 2021 as Hands of Mothers Rwanda. Hands of Mothers is registered as a US 501C3 nonprofit organization and is based in Memphis, TN.