Editor’s note: Darlene’s story was originally published in “A Social Enterprise Link in a Global Value Chain: Performance and Potential of a New Supplier Model,” a new report by Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. Download the full report here.

Darlene was a post-secondary student at the Akilah Institute for Women when she first heard of ADC. A letter writing project was launched in 2014 to link employees of Kate Spade & Company with artisans of ADC. Darlene served as the translator. Translating the artisans’ letters from Kinyarwanda into English gave her a window on their lives. Upon graduating she joined ADC as an intern and in March of 2016, Darlene became the Manager of the Life Skills Empowerment Program.

Significant portions of the program are delivered by 12 peer educators, selected largely on the basis of their leadership skills. Darlene is responsible for “training the trainers.” She remembers her first presentation to the group and the weeks she spent preparing PowerPoint slides. Darlene was nervous about her delivery and concerned with the peer educators’ ability to grasp the materials. But it turned out to be her best day on the job so far: “They immediately got it and understood why it was important. And they were so motivated to share what they had learned.”

“They immediately got it and understood why it was important. And they were so motivated to share what they had learned.”

The content of the Life Skills modules is based on curricula that was developed for a global audience. Darlene works with local partners and peer educators to customize it for the Masoro community. While the basics of family planning, budgeting, or nutrition might not change from country to country, Darlene makes sure it addresses the artisans’ circumstances. For instance in the basic health module, she brought in a local physician to dispel myths about the origins of certain diseases and to warn about the risks of some local remedies.

Artisans participate in the Life Skills Program multiple times per week, depending on the production schedule. The program involves multiple delivery methods, including classes, small group discussions, and role-play activities. Darlene discovered that follow-up and reinforcement are critical: much of the program involves “circling back” after topics are covered to understand how the information is being used and associated implementation challenges.

Darlene sees small changes every day. After financial planning classes, she noticed changes in spending patterns and saving habits. She learned that some artisans were beginning to practice family planning after having falsely believed that every method was incompatible with their religion. And she noticed dietary changes and improved energy levels after the artisans studied nutrition.

Darlene sees small changes every day. After financial planning classes, she noticed changes in spending patterns and saving habits.

Darlene is especially gratified to see the effects of her work rippling beyond the factory. Peer educators are taught to “practice” on their families, and many artisans have shared what they learned with their neighbors as well.

Darlene’s commitment to learning extends beyond ADC. At night she attends classes at the Kigali campus of Mount Kenya University. Darlene’s goal is to complement her post-secondary diploma from Akilah with a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management.