Transforming lives from eleven thousand miles away

Shya Designs is a non-profit run by Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy’s School of Business and Entrepreneurship. We sell different hand made products made from widows who survived the genocide. Shya Designs is their primary way of supporting their families. Our products range from duffle bags to small keychains, and everything in between (to see some of our product check out shyadesgins.com).

About five or so years ago, CVCA became very interested with the program Arise Rwanda. The School of Business wanted not only to gain the opportunity of real-world business experience but to make a difference and do something for the glory of our Savior. Not many people know of the Rwandan Genocide, however, the tragic 800,000+ lives lost break our hearts and left many women to now support their families. Our passion doesn’t come from the pain they experienced, it comes from their strength. I, as well as the rest of the students, am beyond proud and inspired by the women who fought for their lives, and never gave up on God.

Shya Designs should serve as a reminder of the strength God provides in the battles we face, as well as to encourage the mission to help others in the name of God. We have a full class as well as a team of executives running groups that help contribute to Shya Designs. One of the groups that makes this work is the sales team, run by our Director of Sales, Marketing run by CMO, which is just one of the many teams that makes up Shya. All in all, we are a group of hardworking people determined to reach out to help share these women’s incredible stories.

Kenzie Custer, Director of PR for Shya Designs