UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP ALUMNI
The relationship with These Numbers Have Faces does not end at graduation. We tell our students, “You may leave home, but you’re always part of the family!” The alumni of our University Leadership Program continue to play a significant role within These Numbers Have Faces, impacting their communities in several ways:
Giving Back
Our alumni know These Numbers Have Faces has helped them make their dreams come true, providing them access to a university education, paying their tuition, room & board, and school fees. And now, alumni with paying jobs give back to These Numbers Have Faces, paying forward a portion of what has been invested in them so that a new student can receive the same access to a university education they have received. Read Success Stories Here
Career Networking
Our alumni help our graduates find good jobs. They communicate with our Alumni Coordinator and our alumni network whenever there are job opportunities within their places of employment. Read Success Stories Here
Community Impact through Work
Our alumni often choose to take jobs with organizations that give them an opportunity to bring powerful, transformational change to communities, even though these jobs may be very different from what they studied in university. Read Success Stories Here
Community Impact through Service
Our alumni, no matter what their career may be, are passionate about making a difference in their communities. Read Success Stories Here
ACCELERATE ACADEMY ALUMNI
We recognize the future of the African continent relies on the best young leaders starting businesses that will employ and empower the continent. From 2015 through 2018, our Accelerate Academy recruited, trained, mentored, and invested in the best young entrepreneurs in Rwanda, preparing them to thrive as business leaders. Although our Accelerate Academy is currently paused, we continue to mentor and support our Accelerate Alumni, and these alumni continue to impact their communities. Through their growing businesses and social enterprises, our alumni create jobs, bring financial stability to themselves and their employees, and make a difference in their communities. Read Success Stories Here
MEET THE ACCELERATE ALUMNI
Aime Christian
SAN COMPANY LTD
INDUSTRY: COFFEE
Aime Christian sells raw and roasted coffee beans to stores across Rwanda.
ALAIN CHRISTIAN
YUMMY MUSHROOMS
INDUSTRY: AGRICULTURE
Alain cultivates and sells mushroom to small restaurants and individuals throughout Rwanda.
Alexandre
SANIT WING LTD
INDUSTRY: MANUFACTURING
Sanit Wing LTD is manufacturing business of soap (bar and liquid soap), Vaseline (jelly) and oils. The products are mainly from Avocado, Aloe Vera extracts and other local materials. Currently it supplies to small super markets, small shops and small institutions. However, his products are now proven and a lot of big businesses are willing to give bigger orders if it manages to increase its production capacity
Alice & Ariane
STARLIGHT
INDUSTRY: SOLAR ENERGY
Using 3D printing, Ariane and Alice design solar devises for mobile chargers, lamps, and computer bags with a goal of providing power for those living in rural villages and refugee camps.
Alphonse
SASHA ELECTRONICS LTD
INDUSTRY: RETAIL
Alphonse owns a retail shop specializing in electronics for the home and office.
Anais
RIMBA DESIGNS
INDUSTRY: RETAIL
Anais mixes African and western inspirations in her clothing and jewelry design to create a unique style for her customers.
arnold
TECH AVENUE 137
INDUSTRY: TECHNOLOGY
basile
TOMATO PRODUCTION
INDUSTRY: AGRICULTURE
Basile developed an innovative solution to increase the shelf-life of tomatoes, providing this Rwandan staple even when they aren’t in season.
blandine
COSMOS
INDUSTRY: TECHNOLOGY
Blandine created and publishes a magazine focused on parenting advice and maternal health. She looks forward to transitioning all of this valuable information onto a mobile app to provide up-to-date information to all.
Bonaventure
YOUTH ENGAGED IN APITHERAPY LTD
INDUSTRY: RETAIL
Bonaventure is a professional beekeeper who manufactures and sells honey and wax to local stores and markets.
CHARLOTTE
JEANS SHOES
INDUSTRY: RETAIL
Charlotte repurposes worn out clothing and shoes to sell them at an affordable price. The shoes are beautiful, strong, and affordable enough to sell to students and teachers at her university!
christa
STUDENT MICRO-LENDING
INDUSTRY: MICRO-LENDING
Christa started Student Micro-Lending after noticing a common struggle amongst women in University — a lack of resources to pay for their education. Her unique model helps women bypass debt and pay forward opportunities to other women.
christophe
YOUTH FOR AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE
INDUSTRY: AGRICULTURE
Christophe’s company grows and sells seasonal fruits and vegetables — from eggplants to papaya — to local markets in Rwanda. They also train young people in agribusiness initiatives, encouraging entrepreneurship and agricultural development.
christophe
YUBEYI
INDUSTRY: ONLINE COMMERCE
Christophe started one of Rwanda’s first online platforms where people can purchase products and have them delivered to their home or office.
claudien
KIGALI MAINTENANCE MADE EASY
INDUSTY: SERVICES
Claudien has a passion for craftsmanship and beautiful construction. Through Kigali Maintenance Made Easy he builds custom pieces of furniture and home repairs while introducing the option for interior design.
COLLINS
CHIPS CHAMPION
INDUSTRY: RESTAURANT
Collins is determined to help University students find an affordable meal option. His business sells quick and delicious meals near Rwandan Universities.
EGIDE N
CARE COSMETICS LTD
INDUSTRY: RETAIL
Egide uses his skills as a trained health scientist to manufacture skin care produces from Aloe Vera. His products aren’t just used for beauty, but also to treat skin issues.
EMMANUEL
DSIS&T
INDUSTRY: AGRICULTURE
Emmanuel is improving agriculture and ending hunger by providing irrigation services to farmers allowing them to harvest produce all year.
EMMANUEL K
MASAKA LEATHER PRODUCTS
INDUSTRY: RETAIL
Emmanuel designs and crafts beautiful shoes from leather in a shop he shares with other craftsmen. His dream is to open up his own store and sell his shoes online!
EMMANUEL N
TEEBAH FILM VILLAGE LTD
INDUSTRY: CREATIVE
As natural storyteller, Emmanuel founded Teebah Film Village with the aim of building a full-service video production company to tell the stories of individuals and social enterprises to maximize their impact in building a better Rwanda. Teebah’s turnkey video production gives these organizations a simple and powerful tool to share their work and attract new partners.
Evelyne & Justine
WOOLEN PRODUCTS
INDUSTRY: FASHION
Evelyne & Justine market quality hand-woven items to schools and other large institutions.
FABIOLA
CHICKEN QUEEN LTD.
INDUSTRY: AGRICULTURE
Fabiola is combating malnutrition by selling chickens to families in Rwandan communities.
FIDELE
WELL KEEPING OUR ENVIRONMENT
INDUSTRY: ENERGY
Fidele’s love of creativity matched his knowledge of science to create an innovative stove that cooks faster and more efficiently that others on the market.
florentine
TYTYNE CHICKENS FARM
INDUSTRY: AGRICULTURE
Chicken incubation business. It is a home based business, incubating chicken eggs into chicks and sells them after 1 month of maturity.
Francis
INDOOR BARBERSHOP LTD
INDUSTRY: HEALTH & BEAUTY
Francis designed a unique service in Rwanda — mobile haircuts. Francis and his team travel from school to school, providing barber services to the students in a convenient and cost-effective way.
FRANK
GRAVITY RWANDA
INDUSTRY: CREATIVE
Frank and his partners at Gravity Rwanda produce some of the leading digital designs in Kigali. From graphic design and web development to photography and copywriting, Gravity Rwanda does it all.
Gabriel
NEW HILLS LTD
INDUSTRY: TECHNOLOGY
Gabriel founded New Hills Ltd. with the goal of repairing and maintaining ICT equipment for local businesses.
Geoffrey
JABANA BRIGHT ANGELS NURSERY SCHOOL
INDUSTRY: EDUCATION
Geoffrey wanted to provide a strong educational foundation for the kids in his community, so he founded Jabana’s Bright Angels Nursery. His is the only school teaching young people age 3-6 in Jabana, Rwanda.
GITORI
IBYIWACU BAMBOO LTD
INDUSTRY: MANUFACTURING
Gitori and his partners saw bamboo plants going to waste, and decided to turn them into beautiful pieces of furniture.
henri
DHCHIS CONSTRUCTION SOLUTIONS
INDUSTRY: CONSTRUCTION
Henri’s company mines and sells stone materials suitable for large and small scale construction projects across Rwanda.
Henri Carl
G5 SKYWAY GROWTH
INDUSTRY: MANUFACTURING
By employing more than 50 local farmers, Henri Carl has created the first instant coffee company in Rwanda.
honore
HONORE TOURS & TRAVEL RWANDA
INDUSTRY: TOURISM
Honore offers a range of guided trips in the Land of a Thousand Hills, from birdwatching and gorilla trekking to cultural emersion experience showcasing Rwanda’s heritage.
ines
SERAPHINA
INDUSTRY: RETAIL
Seraphina is a fashion brand weaving Rwandan culture and tradition with innovative and contemporary designs.
innocent
ELTD ECOLOGICAL SANITATION OF RWANDA LTD
INDUSTRY: SANITATION
Innocent sells water-treatment devices for water purification systems across Rwanda.
JACKSON
RWANDA ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION LTD
INDUSTRY:MANUFACTURING
Jackson is using recycled organic materials to create briquettes for cooking over charcoal stoves.
Jacqueline
SPARKLE COLLECTIONS
INDUSTRY: RETAIL
Jacqueline trains local youth to produce beautiful jewelry and glass pieces specifically for weddings and special occasions — often repurposing materials such as plastic bottles!
James
ISOMO TECHNOLOGY
INDUSTRY: TECHNOLOGY
James is improving access to educational materials and information through an online resource for students, teachers, researchers, parents, and the general public.
JANE
K-U SOCIAL LTD
INDUSTRY: RETAIL
Jane partners with local artisans to make and sell authentic Rwandan woven accessories.
Janvier
GREEN TECH HUB
INDUSTRY: SHIPPING
Janvier has always loved business, so he founded Green Tech Hub to import electronics from Dubai and the US and sell to small businesses in Rwanda.
jean-claude
ROUND DESIGNS LTD
INDUSTRY: COMMUNICATIONS & IT
Jean Claude provides communication designs, IT Solutions and printing services to small businesses and NGOs in Rwanda.
Jean Marie
HIZA REFORM LTD
INDUSTRY: TRANSPORTATION
With motorcycles being the primary method of transportation in Kigali, Jean Marie saw an opportunity. He is shifting the reputation of moto drives from unreliable and dangerous to safe and convenient.
jean paul
GENUINE LASER SHOP
INDUSTRY: SERVICES
Jean Paul started a laser engraving business with four employees who laser cut photos, logos, and marketing material on wood, leather, metal, and more.
Jean Pierre
PETER’S FARM
INDUSTRY: AGRICULTURE
When he finished university, Jean Pierre decided that his next step would be to open a pig farm instead of pursuing graduate school as his family asked. His business is growing and his piglets are thriving, positioning Peter’s farm as an up-and-coming company!
Jeanette
INZIRA DREAMZ NETWORK
INDUSTRY: SERVICES
Jeanette empowers youth and women to lead through capacity-building activities such as leadership coaching and self-awareness trainings. She also teaches her program participants to create beautiful products out of recycled materials to provide for themselves and their families.
JEANNE D’ARC
TECH RIDE LTD
INDUSTRY: TECHNOLOGY
Jeanne d’Arc is the founder of Tech Ride, a mobile app helping Rwandans purchase bus tickets from their cell phones.
Joe
SOCIAL ARCHITECTURE & ENGINEERING LTD
INDUSTRY: CONSTRUCTION
Joe’s company provides affordable and environmentally friendly housing to communities across Rwanda in order to promote social equity and move towards sources of clean energy.
JOHN
J&J STUDIOS
INDUSTRY: ENTERTAINMENT
John starting a high-quality recording studio for local musicians and film producers, and offers a space for live performances.
Jordan
HOUSE OF HIPPO LTD
INDUSTRY: RETAIL
Jordan creates high-end fashion design and tailoring services for men and women. His dream is to grow his business into a nationally-recognized fashion brand!
joselyne
BLOSSOM SALON
INDUSTRY: HEALTH & BEAUTY
Capitalizing on Africa’s cellphone boom, at Joselyne’s Blossom Salon customers can book appointments online — a new feature for most businesses in Rwanda.
lambert
NSHUTI HOME OF VIDEO GAMES
INDUSTRY: ENTERTAINMENT
Lambert created a location where customers pay by the hour to play their favorite games.
Lea
ELCOBUS WORK TOOL LTD
INDUSTRY: FINANCE
Lea provides financial, administrative, and printing services to business owners across Kigali.
Leon Fidele
TUYISHIMIRE FARM
INDUSTRY: AGRICULTURE
Leon Fidele created Keeps Rabbits as a way for young people to learn responsibility and make some extra money for school. He provides young animals to rural kids to care for, and then splits the profits with them after the sale of a mature rabbit.
MAJESTE
KIGALI PSYCH CENTER
INDUSTRY: MENTAL HEALTH
Stemming from his own experience and story, Majeste opened and operates a psychological service center for Rwandans affected by PTSD.
MARIE CHANTAL & GLORIA
BABY COMFORT SEAT
INDUSTRY: RETAIL
Marie Chantal and Gloria design chairs made from sisal, a local form of the agave plant, that are comfortable and safe for babies and children.
MARIE JEANNE & JAPHET
UWRWAMBARIO SHOE HUB
INDUSTRY: FASHION RETAIL
Marie Jeanne & Japhet design and sell hand-crafted shoes and sandals.
marie-claire
ANGE PIETA LTD
INDUSTRY: CLEANING & MAINTENANCE
Marie Claire founded a hospital cleaning company in Rwanda which currently employs more than a dozen young people!
MAUREEN
MEET RWANDA
INDUSTRY: CREATIVE ARTS
Maureen created a handicraft training center, that empowers vulnerable women and single mothers to become financially independent.
Mathilde
NTAMATI PIGS PARK
INDUSTRY: AGRICULTURE
Mathilde uses every piece of land at Ntamati Pigs Park to provide for her business. Recently she introduced many types of fruits, expanding the business from pigs to fruit!
muzamil
BAMNORAH CHARCOAL BRIQUETTES COMPANY
INDUSTRY: MANUFACTURING
Muzamil manufactures charcoal briquettes for use in homes, and businesses around Rwanda.
Olivier
HABAGRIAS TECH LTD
INDUSTRY: AGRICULTURE
Olivier began farming to support his family of seven siblings, but his love for bananas and chickens grew into a thriving enterprise. Olivier loves learning and teaching others about his innovative farming methods.
nancy
OLIWA CHICKS
INDUSTRY: AGRICULTURE
Nancy raises and sells high quality chicken-meat and eggs to markets in her community.
obed
KUMBUKUMBU TOURS AND RESEARCH
INDUSTRY: TOURISM
Obed owns a regional travel outlet for tourists looking to explore activities in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
pacifique
REAL GREEN GOLD LTD
INDUSTRY: AGRICULTURE
Pacifique produces and sells premium bananas while increasing education on climate smart-agriculture to mitigate effects of climate change.
pamphile
iWACU LABS
INDUSTRY: TECHNOLOGY
Phamphile operates a one-stop IT service center offering a range of digital services from website and graphic design to 3D animation.
pascaline
INEZA MUSHROOM FARM
INDUSTRY: AGRICULTURE
Pascaline started a Mushroom Farm that sells mushrooms to markets, restaurants and grocery stores.
Patrick b
NKINDI’S SUPERMARKET
INDUSTRY: RETAIL
Patrick created a unique supermarket with the goal of bringing people together. Nkidndi’s offers locally made products alongside everyday household items both in store and online.
Patrick n
URUMULI IWACU SOCIAL BENEFIT BUSINESS
INDUSTRY: MANUFACTURING
Patrick uses organic matter to manufacture briquettes used for cooking and heating.
Randolin
KABEZA LOOFAH
INDUSTRY: MANUFACTURING
Randolin manufactures casual shoes and sandals that massage your feet as you walk.
REGIS
INFOTECH SERVICES LTD
INDUSTRY:RETAIL
With the ultimate vision of using his profits to mentor and support Rwandan street kids, Regis built his own business delivering office and school supplies to local schools and businesses.
Samantha
POSH CREATIVE LTD
INDUSTRY: RETAIL
Samantha trains talented and hardworking women in rural areas to produce fashion-forward shoes, hats, and purses for sale throughout Rwanda
Saphani
THE FRESH RESTAURANT
INDUSTRY: RESTAURANT
Saphani and his brother founded The Fresh Restaurant when they were in high school with the goal of providing delicious and affordable food to their community.
SCHADRACK
AMIZERO SHOP
INDUSTRY: RETAIL
Schadrack created his shop with the goal of providing high quality clothing and shoes made in Rwanda to university students.
scovia
LALA FARMS
INDUSTRY: AGRICULTURE
Scovia employs and empowers Rwandan women to start poultry cooperatives in order to promote good nutrition and stabilize local economies.
serge
RWAGASABO TOURS
INDUSTRY: TOURISM
Serge offers a variety of tourism services in Rwanda which include hiking and camping trips, lake tours, and gorilla trekking.
SHIMWA
KORA SMART
INDUSTRY: CREATIVE
Shimwa calls himself “the human printer” because of his ability to paint beautifully accurate portraits more quickly than any other painter. He and his team work in creativity and precision to produce wonderful pieces of art.
sharon
INZOVU AFRICAN VILLAGE
INDUSTRY: RETAIL
Sharon’s clothing, art and coffee-shop sells some of the most innovative and beautiful hand-made products in Kigali.
souzane
IRIZA NTAKO HERITAGE
INDUSTRY: RETAIL
Souzanne creates beautiful hand-woven baskets using unique designs and hand-mixed colors unlike any others found in Rwandan markets. Her goal is to train and employ others, while sharing Rwanda’s history through art.
Theophile
AGACIRO K’IWACU YOUNG INITIATIVE
INDUSTRY: FINANCIAL SERVICES
Theophile created an innovative way to provide health insurance to those living in poor rural communities. Through the organization of community saving groups, his business now enables struggling families to care for their health.
vincent
KIBETI DOC
INDUSTRY: EVENT PLANNING
Vincent offers party decoration services and catering for weddings, birthday parties and government functions.
wellars
RUGUSA COW PRODUCTS
INDUSTRY: AGRICULTURE
Wellars raises dairy cows and sell milk to markets in Rwanda’s Southern Province.
willy
DOVE FILM LIBRARY
INDUSTRY: ENTERTAINMENT
At the Dove Film Library, Willy preserves Rwandan culture through education and entertainment.
yannick
LAVA BIKE TOURS – RWANDA
INDUSTRY: TOURISM
Yannick offers a unique tourist experience through guided bicycle rides through villages and wildlife areas throughout Rwanda.
YVETTE
IRIBA CLEAN WATER DELIVERY
INDUSTRY: WATER TREATMENT
Yvette developed a clean water delivery service — first purifying the water through UV technology and then distributing to households via bike delivery.
