Have you seen our range of colourful cards? They are produced by Cards from Africa with a story behind them as heartwarming as their designs. Their strapline is 'Beautiful Cards, Better Lives, and their aim is to give hope and a future to adults who were orphaned as children in Rwanda. Incorporating handmade paper crafted from recycled office waste, each card is signed personally by the maker. We love the vibrant designs, such as the African Flamingo Handcrafted Greetings Card, Wheelie Great Birthday Handcrafted Card and the Delightful Dumbo Handcrafted Greetings Card. Dozens of young workers come together in the bustling craft room to design, trace, glue and laugh together.

Each maker has their own challenging story to tell. Like Francoise, who was orphaned at the age of 4, losing her parents to illness. Some were abandoned or ran away from difficult home situations. Jeane lives alone while others have siblings and other relatives to support. Few completed their education through lack of money and the need to work, but girls such as Clemence were lucky enough to do so, and she is now saving to go to college. Sadly, there are many cardmakers like CK and Jean Marie who witnessed the brutal killing of many family members during the 1994 genocide. They spent years afterwards fleeing the situation, with no
permanent home.

For all these young people, Cards From Africa has become their family, giving them hope and the chance of an independent future, with money for housing, food and savings. After eight years, Florence is proud to be moving on and setting up her own business, fulfilling the company's hopes to provide a stepping-stone to that 'better life. Do take a look at the company website and read more about the stories behind the cards. Then check out the signatures on the cards and see who made them - it's a great story to share with our customers.