Rwanda Entrepreneur Profile: Gloria Batamuliza

Gloria, 30 years

Gloria has a masters degree and now works with RADA as a communications officer. As a student, she had a business of buying clothes from Uganda and selling them on campus. She wants this training to build up the needed skills to do business and become a successful Entrepreneur.

BUSINESS IDEA: Hostel rental 

Gloria Batamuliza is one of the 29 entrepreneurs studying at the Rwanda Business Development Center, Spring 2011

Rwanda Entrepreneur Profile: Hamim Bazirake

Hamim, 38 years

Hamim has a bachelors degree. He has held different jobs mostly in the Western province. He recently opened a football academy with a partner of his. He dreams to be a successful Entrepreneur and is looking forward to acquiring business skills through this course.

BUSINESS IDEA: Football Academy

Hamim Bazirake is one of the 29 entrepreneurs studying at the Rwanda Business Development Center, Spring 2011

Don't weary of doing good.

Thurs, April 28, 2011
Dr. John Mulford


Hamim dropped by the office to pay his bill. It is so rewarding to hear how the program is impacting the class. He and Jacques, a classmate, have started a football (soccer to us) academy. They had dreamed about it for years, but couldn’t figure out how to start. Ntare, a graduate from the first class, encouraged them to attend the course. They learned that they could start small, which they did. Hamim also mentioned that has a small business in Congo. He said that it almost failed, but that the skills he has learned in our course helped him to revive it.

Tonight, Willie started his presentation by asking the class how many had parents who could not read or write. No one raised a hand. He was surprised because 57% of Rwandans can’t. His business is developing dramas to explain government laws and regulations to those who can’t read. After class, he told me that his parents can’t read or write. He grew up in a village where working in the field was valued more than education. He said that if it hadn’t been for his Compassion International Sponsor’s encouragement, he probably wouldn’t have graduated from high school and he never would have thought about college. He wishes he could meet his sponsor to thank him for changing his life. I am frequently reminded that small things we do (that is, things that don’t inconvenience us much) can have an enormous impact on others. Don’t weary of doing good.

Final exams begin!

Wednesday, April 27th
(Dr. John Mulford)

Final exams started this evening with the first group of five.  It is fun to see how far they have come—both the presenters and their colleagues who ask tough questions and give good advice.  Everything went smoothly except transitions between presentations.  Some hooked up their own computers to our projector, but they weren’t compatible.  I try to avoid using my computer with their flash drives because they are filled with viruses.  They helped each other to get set up. 

Some are wondering how launch their businesses, because they don’t have any start-up funds.  Others have found ways to launch with little.  Grace, who is developing an on-line business magazine and business directory, said her team will contribute their own funds (about $3,000) and work without salary (in addition to their day jobs), in order to launch now.  The last presenter, Mathilde (grocery supplier with home delivery), showed us her website, developed by her 16-yr old daughter, and showed us her business registration, bank book, and business cards.  She’s moving ahead no matter what!

Rwanda Entrepreneur Profile: Innocen Gisanura

Innocent, 30 years

Innocent was a survivor of the Rwandan Genocide and is a born again Christian. He holds a Bachelors degree in Food science and has worked with the Intercontinental hotel as a project surveyor  for  ISAR, OCIR CAFÉ etc. He now works with Agahozo Shalom youth village, an international NGO that seeks to educate the most vulnerable. He is an open, honest, and a curious person who seeks to develop himself to sustain his family  and enjoy life.

BUSINESS IDEA: Holistic Agro Business (Pig breeding, banana growing)

Innocen Gisanura is one of the 29 entrepreneurs studying at the Rwanda Business Development Center, Spring 2011

Worldviews go deep

Tuesday, April 26
(Dr John Mulford)


Had some interesting discussions with our South African visiting exec and a Rwandan businessman about the differences between traditional African worldviews and Western worldviews. Even though many Rwandan business people have been educated in Western models, they still retain subtle influences that predispose them to focus on the present and greatly discount or not even consider the future. Thus they resist sacrificing and investing today for a return in the future—the very essence of business.

It is so easy to fall into the trap that everyone thinks like I think. It is a wake-up call and a challenge to realize that isn’t the case. Without trampling on valued traditions, we want to help people resolve conflicts between their stated goals, such as growing a successful business, and their underlying assumptions, such as only the present is important.

We had another discussion with a Rwandan businessman about a problem he was facing in his family’s business. As the eldest son (his father died several years ago), he is expected to take care of the family and provide leadership. As a Christian, he wants the business to glorify God through its excellence and integrity. Others in the family believe that such a “naïve” approach costs them money. They don’t want to come under his leadership and authority. He is struggling with the decision to divide the business among the siblings. He is concerned that they will squander their share and then be jealous and angry when his part prospers. He wants to lead them in righteous business, but they don’t want to follow.

Then it was time for class. The class responded extremely well to our visiting exec, Eben Nel, both in their one-on-one meetings during the day and in class. Eben told his life story about leaving his job as a government lawyer to pursue business, because opportunities to advance were closed in government. He was fearful leaving a secure job, but he jumped into business with both feet. As a neophyte in business, he tried many small businesses. They all failed, which consumed his life’s savings. Then he met the Lord and realized that he had a calling to business, but he hadn’t listened for God’s direction.

It hasn’t been a smooth path. He has had highs and lows as he learned to listen. As he looks back, he can see God’s supernatural leading in many business situations. Since many in the class currently work in government or other salaried jobs, they could identify with the fear of leaving that security. They could also identify with starting small. They were encouraged to hear of God’s faithfulness.

We used tonight’s class to practice the presentations that every student will do as the final exam in the course. Pascal and Mathilde volunteered to be the practice cases. They each presented their business in 15 minutes. Then we spent about 45 minutes on each, taking it apart and examining how to improve it. The class got the idea of what is required for a compelling, polished presentation. I will hear all 30 of them in five 3-hour sessions Wed, Thur, Friday.

Back in the classroom!

Monday, April 25
(Dr John Mulford)

Met with Chrystel to organize for the final week and a half of the program. She seemed completely recovered from her terrible asthma attach. She said she has one every three years. In reminding students that class resumes tonight, we learned that Aime is in the hospital. Not sure of the reason, but we are praying for him.

Met with Apollo and Brigitte at RDB to finalize plans for graduation. Everything seems on track.

Good to be back in class. Students were excited about graduation next week. To help me remember all their businesses and to force them to be concise, I had each person present his or her business in one minute. Many timed out before finishing. One man said that he needed extra time to translate from Kinyarwanda to English in his head before speaking. Lots of good discussion about the key success factors in their businesses.

Upon arrival back at the guest house, I was greeted by our visiting executive from South Africa, who had just arrived. We talked for an hour and a half. I learned a lot about S. African politics. He is an expert on legal structures of businesses. Many students and graduates have reserved one-on-one time with him.

He Is Risen!

Sunday, April 24—Easter, He is risen!
(Dr John Mulford)


Warm greeting from Jean Marie, who prepared an excellent breakfast as usual.

Tim Brubaker, Regent PhD student who has lived in Kigali for several years, recommended his church—Christian Life Assembly (CLA). It was tough to be away from home and family on Easter, but the CLA service was uplifting—1,500 Rwandans worshipping joyously in English, except for one Kinyarwanda song. As a first-time visitor, I was invited to meet the pastor and staff after the service. The senior pastor and founder of the church is a Canadian. He was very interested in introducing our Business Development Center program to his congregation. Good potential, because they all speak English.

That evening I met the founding team of a new insurance company to help them map out strategy, capital structure, etc. Strong group of Christians who want to build a company based on trust. Exciting potential.