Areas of Focus
Love and Hands fuels communities to develop lasting solutions using what they already have. Grounded in the belief that every community holds the inherent strength to drive its own transformation, the organization guides participants to uncover their existing skills and local resources, building a growth mindset that fosters confidence and agency. Communities then mobilize these assets to pursue their goals, forming group-based livelihood enterprises supported by ongoing mentorship and connections to growth opportunities. The result is self-directed, community-owned development rooted in local knowledge and capacity.
Co-Founder/Team Leader
Cohort Year
2026
Erica Matasi Gateka is the Co-Founder and CEO of Love and Hands and an international development professional with 10+ years of experience leading community-centered programs in Rwanda and Burundi. Holding an M.A. in Development Practice, she specializes in community development that builds on local resources and strengths. At Love and Hands, their work focuses training and equipping local communities to build sustainable livelihoods using what the have now to start.
Cohort Year
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