Regine Uwitonze

Regine Uwitonze,  a student of Environmental Health Science at the University of Rwanda, is the founder of Verdant Solutions, a social enterprise turning discarded pineapple leaves into eco-friendly leather. By partnering with local pineapple farms, Verdant collects and processes leaves to produce sustainable leather, addressing both waste reduction and offering an alternative to traditional leather.

With the Giving Joy grant, Regine will partner with local pineapple farms to lead workshops for 40 women farmers. These workshops will focus on sustainable farming practices, efficient leaf collection techniques, and transforming pineapple leaves into leather. In addition to the training, Regine will provide ongoing support and mentorship to help the women implement these techniques and grow their leather businesses. The grant will also boost Verdant's reputation as a leader in sustainable leather production and women's empowerment, while offering valuable insights to further refine its business model and address challenges in sustainable farming.