{As a young adult who returned from Canada to Rwanda in 2011, I was worried as to how I was exactly going to make a living at home, especially since it really was not in my plans to stay here after the summer vacations. One of the first thing I noticed while here was that there were a lot of young adults, 20 to 30 years old, already owning or starting their own businesses. Sure this is not a general statement, the great majority cannot afford to start their own business and work and grind from 9 to 5. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that and we must all do what we can.
}
When I landed in Kigali, one of the first things I did, even though I had a degree in International Studies from the University of Toronto, was to sign up for school again but this time in Mass Media and Communication. As my primary interest I figured if I wanted to really embed myself in Rwandan life was to get accustomed to the demands of the local society and school is often the gateway to that. Meeting people who have been working here for years, I managed to find some with similar interests and associate myself with them.
Personally, I wanted to get involved with the entertainment business and it brought me great pleasure to see the youth working radio presenters, concert organizers and fashion designers. Having mentors help me navigate the way people do business here has helped me a lot but I know the majority did not have the connections I had and I’m glad to see the progress that is taking place.
Many of the diaspora acquaintances I happen to know who have returned from abroad are trying to bring their ideas, skills and expertize to life directly from their hard work. The private sector still plays a very small role in the overall economy and these SMEs are mostly learning through trial and error. They aren’t completely stranded though; PSF, RDB and schools like Cambridge University, amongst others, are doing a lot to help.
The Private Sector Federation of Rwanda had established a five-year strategic plan back in 2007 to generate baseline data to help develop comprehensive capacity building plan for its SMEs members. Their focus was and still is to provide the most basic of information and tools in order to accomplish simple tasks such as keeping accounting records, develop marketing skills and much more.
Rwanda’s Development Board also established the Entrepreneurship Development, which is a strategy to increase business start-ups in Rwanda. With their five-year plan, they seek to provide existing and potential entrepreneurs with the right skills and knowledge to become competitive locally and regionally.
Cambridge University in collaboration with KIST have started an Entrepreneurship Week event which still runs to this date and aims at providing product development, market analysis, networking and funding for their initiatives.
Having studied abroad, I have not used these initiatives but knowing they are available for all gives me hope in tomorrow’s Rwanda. Some of us have landed here and scrambled to make ends meet and I personally know of successful stories that continue to inspire me to this very day. My message to all the dreamers and doers out there is to persist; believe in yourself and work hard. Those of you still outside of Rwanda wondering if you should come home, to you I say come home! Let us build this beautiful country with our own hands and realize our dreams.
Check these websites for more help:
www.psf.org.rw
www.rdb.rw
About the Author
{{Bill Nyirimihigo}}: billnyi3@gmail.com, Tel: 0786 592 470.
Student at Mount Kenya University in Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media & Communication.
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