Baho Neza Swe
Baho Neza SWE is a non-profit organization that works to empower young women in Rwanda through popular education, health, culture and entrepreneurship. It is based on the belief that sustainable development begins with knowledge and that real change grows when people are given the opportunity and tools to shape their own lives.
Through education, inspiration and practical skills, the aim is to help women gain greater opportunities to take control of their health, their finances and their future.
An important part of the work focuses on women’s health and knowledge of their own bodies. When women understand their bodies and their well-being, it becomes easier to make informed decisions, strengthen their independence and pass on knowledge and inspiration to others in the family and the community.
How it started
Baho Neza SWE was founded by Ann Hageus, whose commitment to human rights and gender equality has grown throughout her life.
Already as a child, Ann reflected on why the world is so unfair. As she grew older, her engagement deepened around injustices between women and men and around the connection between education, gender equality and a country’s development. She has worked in various non-profit organizations focused on human rights and has long been particularly committed to girls’ and women’s opportunities for education and an independent life.
At the same time, the body has always had a central place in Ann’s life. As a young woman, she developed her talent in gymnastics and acrobatics at a circus school in Paris. She later trained as a chiropractor and, through her profession, gained a deeper understanding of the body, health and movement. She also studied international economic history at Stockholm University to better understand the economic and historical conditions behind poverty and inequality.
Through her work with Clowns Without Borders, Ann was able to combine several of her interests – human rights, the body, culture and joy. From 2016, she took part in several international projects where the organization met people in vulnerable situations and spread hope, laughter and dreams through clowning, play and circus.
Rwanda became the starting point
In the autumn of 2018, Ann travelled to Rwanda for the first time together with Clowns Without Borders. Together with a Rwandan artist group, they toured various refugee camps around the country. They performed and taught acrobatics, games and other activities to children and their families.
Ann was deeply moved by both the country and the people she met. At the same time, she saw many young women struggling hard for their survival and began to reflect on how she could contribute to more long-term change – not only through a temporary effort, but by giving people the knowledge and tools to create change themselves.
The following year, Ann returned to Rwanda and came into contact with the Save Generation Organization (SGO), a Rwandan organization that works to support young women and girls and strengthen their opportunities for education, independence, and their own livelihood.
The collaboration with SGO became an important foundation for the continued work. In January 2021, Ann founded the Swedish non-profit organization Baho Neza SWE.
From idea to activity
From the beginning, the goal was to create an education center in Gisenyi, Rwanda, where vulnerable young women could gain knowledge and practical skills that strengthen their ability to take control of their bodies and their lives.
The name Baho Neza means "Live healthy" in Kinyarwanda and reflects the belief that health, knowledge, independence, and the ability to support oneself are interconnected.
Today, Baho Neza SWE works together with the Rwandan branch Baho Neza Education, focusing on education, health, entrepreneurship, and culture. Through knowledge, practical learning, and creative activities, the aim is to create opportunities for people to grow – and to take part in creating change in their families and local communities.
There is a strong belief that knowledge creates empowerment. And that change begins when people are given the opportunity to shape their own future.