A Foundation That Lasts: One Entrepreneur’s Journey to Entrepreneurial Success
More than a decade after participating in a TechnoServe program, Gloriose Uwayezu is now the owner of a thriving brick-making business in Rwanda.
Entrepreneurial Success in Rwanda
In 2013, Gloriose Uwayezu was at a crossroads familiar to many young people in Rwanda. Recently graduated from secondary school with a background in accounting, the 23-year-old left school without a clear vision for her future and limited job prospects. In Rwanda, almost 17% of youth are unemployed.
That’s when she heard about TechnoServe’s Strengthening Rural Youth Development through Enterprise (STRYDE) program and decided to join. STRYDE was a partnership between TechnoServe and the Mastercard Foundation that empowered rural youth through training in areas such as personal efficacy and entrepreneurship.
“STRYDE opened my eyes,” Gloriose reflected. She is now 35 years old and the owner of a successful brick-making business that employs nearly 40 people. “The program provided me with essential skills, including entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and important linkages with financial institutions. But most importantly, it gave me the confidence to pursue my business dreams.”
Breaking into a Male-Dominated Industry
In 2014, after completing her STRYDE training, Gloriose made a bold decision that surprised many in her community. She decided to enter the brick-making industry, a field traditionally dominated by men in Rwanda.
“I kept seeing people in my community making bricks. It sparked my interest, and I decided to start learning by doing,” Gloriose explained. Initially working as a day laborer, earning around 3,000 RWF (approximately $2.50) daily, she methodically studied the business while applying the entrepreneurial principles she had learned through STRYDE.
The skills acquired during her STRYDE training became what Gloriose calls her “investment capital.” The program had taught her how to run a business and think like an entrepreneur, identifying opportunities, analyzing markets, and strategically planning.
Building Financial Foundations
One of the most valuable outcomes of the STRYDE program was the savings group Gloriose formed with fellow participants. “Each member saved around 300 RWF ($0.21) per week. It wasn’t much at first, but it created a foundation for bigger opportunities,” she explained. Gloriose was elected president of the 15-member savings group by demonstrating the leadership skills fostered during her training. Under her guidance, the group opened a bank account to manage their collective savings and prepare for future loan access.
Creating Economic Opportunities in the Community
This strategic approach paid off. Through a combination of her savings group’s activities, personal loans, and a 300,000 RWF ($208) grant from STRYDE, Gloriose progressively built her brick-making enterprise. She started by renting land for brick production, then a kiln, and eventually purchased her own kiln in 2017.
When I first started the brick-making business, I was young, and I had to rely a lot on my own energy and determination. Back then, I didn’t have a lot of experience, so every day was a learning experience. I would wake up early and head straight to the brick kiln, where I’d either be molding the bricks or arranging the drying process. It was physically demanding work. I didn’t have many people to help me, so I did most of the work myself. I was also just starting out with very limited resources, so every little thing was a challenge.”
Today, her business employs 15 permanent staff, 20 additional part-time workers (predominantly young women), two specialists who fire the bricks, and two transportation workers. Her monthly income has increased to approximately 500,000 RWF (approximately $420), and her business is valued at around 20 million RWF (approximately $16,800).
Now, with a team of trained employees, Gloriose divides her time between managing her brick business and a food boutique she established near a local university—another successful venture funded by profits from her primary business. Gloriose started the food boutique during a period of heavy rain in Rwanda that prevented her from working her other job. It was then that she realized she needed to diversify her income and invest in other businesses so that weather-related challenges wouldn’t impact her ability to support her family.
Beyond Business: Building Community Impact
Gloriose’s success extends beyond her personal achievements. As one woman among eight business partners in Abanyamurava Kavumu, a registered brick-making cooperative, she’s helping formalize and professionalize the industry. The cooperative employs staff who manage taxation and compliance through Rwanda’s electronic billing machine system.
Her business activities have created employment opportunities for nearly 40 people in her community, primarily youth. For the young women working in brick transportation and stacking, Gloriose serves as a powerful role model, demonstrating that being a woman should not limit their opportunities.
Sustainable Impact: A Legacy of Growth
The lasting impact of the STRYDE program is evident in the stability and growth Gloriose has achieved. She has built her own home, ensured quality education for her 4-year-old child, and diversified her business interests. She’s now planning further expansion into real estate, building rental houses for university students.
Being able to send my child to school means a lot to me. As a mother, there’s nothing more important than giving your child a better future. Knowing that my child is getting an education because of the business I’ve built is incredibly satisfying. On top of that, I’ve gained a certain level of financial freedom. I can meet all the basic needs of my household, respond to emergencies without panic, and plan for the future with more reassurance.”
Advice to the Next Generation
When asked what advice she would give her younger self, Gloriose’s response reflected the core principles STRYDE instilled in participants: “Open your mind and stay focused. Invest in saving early, no matter how small the amount. Don’t look down on any job, no matter how simple it seems. Every step counts.”
She acknowledges that entering the brick-making industry as a woman meant facing discouragement from others, but her conviction and vision kept her moving forward. “You have to challenge and break those stereotypes,” she asserted.
Twelve years after her STRYDE training, Gloriose sees herself as a beneficiary of the program and a continuation of its mission.
“Beyond my own success, I now see it as my responsibility to advocate for other young people—especially those who face the same challenges I did: lack of capital, poor financial management, and limited access to loans…Many youth have the ideas and the passion, but they need the right support and guidance to succeed.”
