By Rodrigue Shyaka | F&A officer/Aspire Rwanda
Dear Project donors,
We are so thankful for your generous support of young women.
Meet Emerite
Emerite is 22 years old, she is married and has two children. She lives in Gisozi Village, near Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. She is a 2021 graduate of the ASPIRE Rwanda program. She has a small shop in a marketplace. She makes a monthly profit of $35 dollars, which may not seem like much.
How has the project affected your confidence level?
“I am now confident that any person can start a business and it does not matter that they are a woman or a man. We all have the ability to do it with the right support. I am not afraid to share this positive message with other women.”
What was your favorite course?
“I enjoyed all courses taught at Aspire Rwanda but the cookery and business skills training were my favorite ones. I joined this program with the goal to gain knowledge to start a business and provide for my family. I was very motivated and followed lessons carefully. I felt like the business training and cookery lessons could help me to start my own business that is why I liked them a lot.”
How has your business evolved?
“I started by selling fruits and vegetables to local customers who knew me in my village. With time, I started to increase the number of customers by travelling with my products through cells streets. I only used 10,000 RWF [$12 USD] as starting capital which has increased in March 2021 when Aspire Rwanda gave me a startup capital of 50,000 RWF [$60 USD]. I got a place in the free market. I recently received a loan but unfortunately thieves stole my merchandise and it took me a while to get back on my feet. However, I am hard working and I have started to make a profit of 30,000Rwf [$35 USD] from my monthly sale which will enable me to pay back the loan.”
How has your relationship with husband changed?
“Before Aspire, our relationship was complicated. I did not work and depended on my husband for everything. I saw myself as a beggar in my house and he also did not respect me much. Now that I contribute to the family’s income and I am independent financially, a lot has changed. I feel empowered and he also respects me.”
Impact on children
“I am able to give three meals a day to my children including a nutritious porridge in the morning. With my husband, we can now afford to pay the children’s school fees easily. We can also afford mutuelle de sante [health insurance] for them easily.”
Any last words
“I am glad to express my thanks and gratitude to ASPIRE Rwanda and other supporters, which allowed me to move from zero to the current stage where I am and that I am proud of. The continuous support from Aspire staff is also appreciated and I hope that a big number of women will also benefit from the program like me.”
We welcome your continued support in making a difference in the lives of more vocational girls. We encourage you to donate monthly here. Even a few dollars a month will go a long way. Please also share this with your contacts and invite them to consider supporting this ongoing project.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at aspirerwanda@gmail.com or rshyaka@aspirerwanda.org
With great appreciation,
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