However, when the genocide ended, Rwanda was 70% female—women were left to rebuild their country. They cared for children on their own and took in orphans; they paved roads and repaired buildings; they sowed fields and collected the harvest. They tried as best they could to piece their lives back together.
The new Rwandan government recognized that, in order to move their country forward, they needed to invest in policies that promoted the rights of women. Through their concerted efforts, and women-led activism movements across the country, Rwanda passed new laws to advance women’s rights and increase their participation in the workforce, as well as in government. Today, women make up 64% of Rwanda’s parliament—the highest representation in the world!
Even with these remarkable achievements, though, Rwanda still has a long way to go. To this day, more than 40% of the population lives below the poverty line, women are far less likely than men to have wage-paying jobs (when they do, they earn on average 50% less than men), and 1 in 3 women experience domestic violence.
In this landscape, our Leadership Academy—a six-month advanced business education program in Kigali, Rwanda—is helping women to move their country forward.
The Indego Africa Leadership Academy was founded in 2014 with a mission to empower the next generation of powerful female leaders, entrepreneurs, and businesswomen in Rwanda. The program focuses on teaching women advanced management skills that they can use to grow their own businesses, become entrepreneurs, and drive economic growth in their communities. {For more details, see here.}
The second class of our Leadership Academy graduated on January 14th, 2016 and we could not be more proud of their accomplishments! Of the 25 students, 52% started a new business; 12% expanded a pre-existing business; and the remaining 36% plan to start a new business in the near future.
Those who started new businesses hired 8 people and are now earning on average an additional 52,500 Rwandan Francs or $70 per month. These women are now not only better able to provide for themselves and their families but are also creating employment opportunities and economic growth in their communities—paying it forward and using their newfound knowledge and skills to uplift others along the way (how great is that?!)
As we look towards the future, we are so excited to introduce you to our third Leadership Academy class, which began the course on January 20th! We chatted with them to find out what they were most excited to learn and hear their thoughts on the importance of education for women in Rwanda, as well as their hopes for the future. Here’s what they had to say:
Beatha, Cocoki Cooperative
“I am so excited to learn about financial management, business plans, and how to work with banks. Once I find out, I’m going to create my own business plan and ask the bank for a loan.”
Celine, Ingenzi Knit Union
“I want to use what I learn at the Leadership Academy to improve my cooperative and empower other women. On a personal level, I plan to start saving, budgeting, and recording my expenses so that I can open my own business one day. I hope for all of us that we continue to live well and do the work that we love.”
Aisha, Covanya Cooperative
“Because women are the hearts of their families, my hope is that we will continue to develop ourselves and invest in our children, who will in turn contribute to the development of our country.”
Jacqueline, Imirasire Cooperative
“Education is important because it will help us increase our confidence and be bold in all that we do.”
Josephine, Ibaba Cooperative
“I am excited to learn Word and Excel programs to improve financial records and communication at my cooperative.”
Liberatha, Ingenzi Knit Union
“Education is the foundation of community development. When you educate a woman, you give her the means and the power to educate her children, and that is an important thing.”
Judith, Ejo Hazaza Cooperative
“My goal is to share the knowledge I receive with other women in the community and equip them with skills so that we can all start businesses and provide for our families. I hope that we will be able to eradicate poverty through access to educational opportunities for all.”
We are so inspired by these women and all they have set out to achieve. They have a powerful vision for their own and their country’s futures, and we have no doubt that—with the right tools and resources—they will achieve it.
To help these aspiring entrepreneurs and leaders realize their dreams, click here.