Growing up in Britain’s industrial heartland in the 1970s, you couldn’t miss how important manufacturing was to post-war economic success. Whether they were making cars or textiles or cutlery, people felt part of something bigger.
The global economy has changed dramatically, with the service economy and retail replacing manufacturing in many places. But the importance of starting your own business remains just as vital. It gives people purpose, pride and independence.
Visitors to Rwanda are impressed by people’s resilience and resourcefulness: what is lacking is financial knowledge and funding to start small businesses. With our long-time local partners, SURF, the Survivors’ Fund, we counsel genocide orphans and widows. We never promise to cure post-traumatic stress disorder, but we train people to manage the symptoms so they can work and care for their families.
One sign of progress is when people start thinking about the future: how can they make enough money to break the cycle of poverty, they ask? This is especially important to orphans and widows who cannot rely on family networks to find them a job.
Entrepreneurship programme
The answer is enterprise training and providing loans to help people start up on their own. Survivors learn to do market research, write business plans, and handle their finances. When they are ready, they apply for loans.
For instance, Rachel Uwimana (pictured) borrowed £260 ($350) to start a shop selling clothes and shoes. Callixte Mukeshimana (pictured) borrowed £800 ($1,000) and launched a second-hand clothes emporium. He has repaid his first loan and is applying for a second round so he can expand. Pascaline Iradukunda (pictured) also borrowed £800 ($1,000) and started a shop selling cleaning products.
Big Give 2025
In December this year, we will ask our UK supporters to please participate in our Big Give campaign. Your gift to Network for Africa will be matched if you donate in a specific time window. Your support during the Big Give campaign can help us with this important work in Rwanda. Thank you very much.