Pygmy Survival Alliance
We connect pygmy villages in Rwanda with what they need to survive and thrive.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The pygmies of Rwanda - also known as the Community of Potters - is a minority population on the verge of extinction. In contrast to the recent improvement in the health and lives of the majority of Rwandans, the welfare of many pygmies continues to decline: many lack even the most basic access to health services and proper nutrition. In 1998 they were driven from their traditional way of life in the forests of Rwanda by the creation of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, and their struggle continues to be unrecognized or ignored by many governments. Often, they are pictured as victims of history and unable to adapt to modernization. Sometimes they are referred to as "conservation refugees" or "the people who were left behind by history". The Pygmy Survival Alliance, aka "PSA", addresses these problems through the use of strategic interventions in health and community development in order to provide the pygmies with a sustainable foundation upon which to grow and thrive.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Community of Potters Health and Development Program (COPHAD)
COPHAD is an effective model program for operating multi-faceted change strategies to promote health and development of impoverished indigenous pygmy communities. It has been validated by significant evidence-based outcomes in healthcare, nutrition, economic growth and women's rights in Rwanda among "formerly marginalized" people also known as the Batwa,
Where we work
External reviews

Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of students per classroom during the reporting period
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Infants and toddlers, People of African descent, At-risk youth, Extremely poor people, Artists and performers
Related Program
Community of Potters Health and Development Program (COPHAD)
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Irerero Early Childhood Center strives to provide entry-level educational skills for students. Our goal is to be able to enroll more students to help them succeed. We are just beginning this metric.
Number of donors lending
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Indigenous peoples
Related Program
Community of Potters Health and Development Program (COPHAD)
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
In 2019, we began tracking number of donors. We hope to continue this tracking as we build organizational capacity. We joined Global Giving in 2020 and greatly increased our number of supporters.
Number of students who receive scholarship funds and/or tuition assistance
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Infants and toddlers, People of African descent, Extremely poor people, At-risk youth, Artists and performers
Related Program
Community of Potters Health and Development Program (COPHAD)
Type of Metric
Context - describing the issue we work on
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Irereo Early Childhood Center serves many children unable to pay school fees. These children are given scholarships. We hope to provide scholarships for all children who need them.
Total number of performances
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Women and girls, Men and boys, Indigenous peoples
Related Program
Community of Potters Health and Development Program (COPHAD)
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Kwizera Performance Group performs at weddings and other events, for which they often receive a stipend. This activity was severely curtailed in 2020 by Covid lockdowns and curfews.
Number of volunteers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Community of Potters Health and Development Program (COPHAD)
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Our volunteers contribute in countless ways and we hope to increase the number of these folks in order to strengthen the capacity of our organization. In 2020, we add volunteers in USA and Belgium.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Our goal is to prevent the extinction of the people and culture of the indigenous Batwa Pygmies of Rwanda in order to provide an opportunity for humankind to gain from their unique cultural attributes.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Since 2009, we have operated the Community of Potters Health and Development project in Ndera Sector, Gasabo District, Rwanda, also known as "COPHAD", in conjunction with our Rwandan national partner, Health Development Initiative-Rwanda https://hdirwanda.org/ .
We began in the village of Bwiza, which has now become the new village of Cyaruzinge. We have also been working in Masoro Village and made outreach to other villages. We began by providing shoes, clothing, food, shelter, medical care, education and jobs. We established a Village Council of an equal number of men and women. Our interventions are lead by a Rwandan Field Manager who operates within an administrative oversight of a well-established and successful Rwandan NGO, ensuring compliance with all local regulations.
Food security was job #1 because we found infant deaths were directly related to malnutrition. We improved agricultural methods by providing tools, fertilizer and training on terrace-building. We promoted the introduction of livestock including goats and cows. We provided training on reproductive health, childbirth, HIV screening, nutrition, sanitation and hygiene. We built water harvesting and storage systems, pit toilets, and new roofs for homes. We recruited support within the local Rwandan government at the Sector, District and National levels.
We coordinated volunteer efforts among Philanthropic, Diplomatic, Educational, International and Business allies. We organized worker Cooperatives for agriculture, basket-making and performing arts. We advocated for and coordinated access to water and electricity. We started a Nursery School at the request of the mothers.
At present, we are combining the concept of a Traditional Arts Cultural Village with an Institute for Culture and Early Childhood Education.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We have a strong base of 11 years of mutual successful collaboration with our Rwandan NGO collaborators and staff, and a positive reputation in the region as a development partner who has accomplished changes at the grassroots level that many thought were impossible.
We have a growing administrative capacity for fundraising based in the USA, together with collaborators in Belgium and Japan. We are building an endowment and continuing to plant seeds, such as collaboration with other Seattle NGOs and Global Community Leaders.
We have purchased 1.5 acres of land in Cyaruzinge, have completed a Topographic Survey, and obtained preliminary sketches for the new Institute. We completed a one-year organizational development process with record fund raising success and enlivened programming in microloans, nutrition and community development.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Before we started, more than half the babies born in the Batwa Pygmy village of Bwiza died before they were 5 years old. Today, most are surviving past 5 years of age.
Before we started, the women had less social status than men; now, the men and women have more equal social status. Before we started, people were dying of malnutrition and at risk of extinction. Now, they are surviving, and many are thriving.
Before we started, the Batwa of Bwiza were not singing and dancing because they were hungry. Today, they are performing at the Marriott Hotel and the Embassies of Germany and the USA.
Next, we will further extend our efforts to near-by Batwa communities and recruit in-country resources at the government level to sustain the progress with this new generation of children.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Community meetings/Town halls, Constituent (client or resident, etc.) advisory committees,
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve,
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What significant change resulted from feedback?
The Cyaruzinge leaders reported that their young women were vulnerable to sexual predators and needed assistance developing capacity for self sufficiency and entrepreneurship. We assisted the group in starting the ROSCA mutual savings association for young women. Also, we are currently developing a microloan project for 6 other women too, following guidelines from the NGO, "The Columbia Project".
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With whom is the organization sharing feedback?
Our staff, Our board, Our funders,
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get honest feedback from the people we serve,
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Pygmy Survival Alliance
Board of directorsas of 2/13/2021
Dr. Karl Weyrauch
Robert Boiko
University of Washington
Elizabeth Scallon
Amazon
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Not applicable -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.
Equity strategies
Last updated: 02/13/2021GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.