Kinvest: Cultivating Dignity and Opportunity in Rwanda
Who is Raymond Sawatsky?
Raymond has spent the last 20 years in the international development space, working across Africa and Latin America with various Non-Governmental Organizations. His extensive experience and deep commitment to social impact have shaped his vision for sustainable development and community empowerment.
What is Kinvest?
Kinvest is an impact investing product that operates as a business with core values centered on human potential and local ownership. This is achieved by developing commercial farms in Rwanda and equipping local entrepreneurs to cultivate the land. At Kinvest, they believe that everyone is made in the image and likeness of God. The name "Kinvest" reflects this principle, emphasizing kinship and mutual benefit for both the locals and investors.
Kinvest is pioneering social impact investing in Canada. As a venture capital entity, it offers various investment products, including a partnership with GiveWise. The agriculture company in Rwanda is located in the Nyagatare district near the Akagera River. This venture spans 605 hectares across three properties, aiming to create 2530 jobs and eventually transfer company ownership to local employees through an employee trust. This exit strategy ensures that those who create value will own the company, providing investors with a return while fostering local empowerment.
Visiting Kinvest: Current and Future Vision
- In 5 Years: The entire 605 hectares will be developed, with solar-powered drip irrigation facilitating year-round crop production. This infrastructure will support both export and domestic crops, contributing to stable food production in Rwanda.
- In 10 Years: The company will be owned by the local employees who built its value, creating a legacy of empowerment and sustainable development. This model will have transformed typical job opportunities into impactful careers, with employees sharing the success and value generated by the community at Kinvest.
Kinvest's Commitment
Currently, Kinvest employs around 700 people, with a third being full-time permanent employees—a rarity in Rwanda's agricultural sector. Impressively, 80% of the workforce is female. The head office in the capital of Rwanda, Kigali employs about 25 staff members, managing various transactions and operations.
Investing in Kinvest
What can investing in Kinvest do? As part of an overall investment of $10 million, the creation of 2500 new full time employment opportunities would become available to those in Rwanda. Employees earn at least four times the minimum wage, providing financial stability and planning opportunities. They will also embark on a learning journey about company shares, as they will eventually own part of the business.
Raymond shares a very special story illustrating Kinvest's impact. Early on, they bought a small 7-hectare farm to test their model. After COVID-19 restrictions lifted, they visited and met an employee who thanked them for their reliability. He expressed gratitude for being paid regularly before any crops were produced, highlighting the cultural shift from uncertainty to contractual faithfulness.
Investing in Kinvest means more than financial returns; it's about fostering dignity, stability, and empowerment for a large community. This profound impact transcends traditional ROI metrics, embedding value in the lives and stories of countless individuals.
GiveWise is excited and privileged to offer its Donors an opportunity to create a compounded impact. You can donate to a GiveWise Fund, receive a donation tax receipt, and then invest those donated dollars with Kinvest! The Donor will then have opportunity to give the investment income to any Registered Canadian Charity of their choice. There are so many winners in this scenario it is difficult to count them all!
Want more info? Contact Dan Kyte, GiveWise Director of Finance and Investments.
To learn more about Kinvest visit: https://kinvestpartners.com