Empowering youth and women through skills and opportunity

Ever Retreat Foundation was born from a relationship that began long before the Foundation had a name.

When Ever Retreat was being built in Rubavu, reaching the property was not easy. There were no proper roads leading directly to the villa, and getting construction materials to the site was a major challenge. The construction process required not only planning and investment, but also a great deal of physical work.

During this difficult period, women from the surrounding community became an important part of the journey.

They helped carry construction materials and supplies to the villa, often doing physically demanding work under difficult conditions. They walked the difficult routes to reach the property and helped move the materials that were needed to build what would eventually become Ever Retreat.

Their contribution was more than simply labour. They became part of the story of Ever Retreat itself.

We saw their strength, determination and willingness to work, but we also saw the challenges they faced in finding sustainable opportunities to earn a living. This stayed with us.

As Ever Retreat developed, we felt that our relationship with these women should not end when the construction was completed. We wanted to continue creating opportunities for them and for other members of the surrounding community.

This was the beginning of the idea that would become the Ever Retreat Foundation.