Empowered to Thrive
Through training, seed capital, and ongoing support, 32 women in Kigali are launching businesses and transforming their futures.
Full Story:
In Kigali, Rwanda, a powerful movement is unfolding. Since 2022, Rise Up Woman International and our local partner ALARM-Rwanda have been walking alongside 32 courageous women—many of them widows, single mothers, and street vendors—as they take bold steps toward economic freedom.
Esperance, a mother of three, once sold fruit on the roadside. After joining the program, she received business training and a microloan to expand her produce stall. Today, she not only supports her children’s school fees but also mentors two younger women in her neighborhood.
Aline, a widow, used to struggle just to put food on the table. Now she runs a tailoring business and is part of a savings group that helps women weather economic storms. “I never imagined I could be a businesswoman,” she says. “Now I feel proud of what I’ve built.”
Josiane, who once feared being arrested while selling goods without a license, now operates a legal, growing business thanks to her training in microenterprise and the startup capital she received in June 2025.
These stories are just a glimpse of what happens when women are equipped with the tools to succeed. Over the course of three sessions—including training in entrepreneurship, savings, and cooperative management—women gained the knowledge, confidence, and resources to launch sustainable businesses. This summer, 23 participants received seed capital to launch or scale their ventures, while others continue to receive mentoring and follow-up support.
The impact is already visible:
Improved household nutrition and income stability
Growing networks of mentorship and support
Increased confidence and dignity
Real businesses built from resilience and grit
This initiative is more than a program—it’s a sisterhood of strength, a ripple effect of empowerment, and a vision of what’s possible when women are given the opportunity to rise.
