95 girls graduate from OSO’s vocational and livelihood improvement programs in Gakenke District

By The Inspirer.

In a notable stride for women’s empowerment in Rwanda, 95 girls recently graduated from vocational and livelihood programs at Our Sisters’ Opportunity (OSO), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) based in Gakenke District, Northern Province.

The graduation ceremony, held last Friday, marked the third cohort of graduates who completed OSO’s life-changing programs, designed to equip vulnerable girls and women with the skills needed for sustainable livelihoods.

Hailing from disadvantaged backgrounds, the graduates were trained in various sectors such as digital fashion, ethical design, and agribusiness, all aimed at fostering economic independence. OSO specifically targets young women aged 13 to 27 who fall into the two lowest economic strata, including teenage mothers, women with disabilities, orphans, and school dropouts. Its mission is to empower these women to overcome poverty by creating a generation of entrepreneurial leaders who can drive positive change in their communities.

Empowering women through vocational and entrepreneurship training

During the ceremony, Delphine Uwamahoro, Founder and Executive Director of OSO, underscored the organization’s vision of transforming communities through women’s economic empowerment.

“At OSO, we envision a world free from poverty, where everyone has an equal opportunity to reach their full potential. We strongly believe that when girls and women are given a chance to thrive, they take action to meet their families’ basic needs and uplift their children and communities,” Uwamahoro said.

She emphasized the organization’s focus on providing entrepreneurial vocational training, securing sustainable jobs for graduates, and offering continuous mentorship to help start-ups thrive.

“Our short-term goals include achieving an 80% graduation rate among students, securing business contracts for our graduates, and ensuring they generate a stable monthly income,” Uwamahoro added. “In the long term, we aim to create sustainable and decent jobs for all OSO graduates, empowering them to meet fundamental needs like food, clean water, education, healthcare, and adequate housing.”

Recognizing excellence in innovation

This year, three outstanding graduates were recognized for their innovation in soap-making projects. The winners, including KAYITESI Marie Chantal, TUYIZERE Leoncie, and the ‘UBUMWE BWACU Ltd.’ group, were awarded Rwf 500,000 each to bring their collective business plans to life. This recognition highlights their ability to turn vocational training into tangible entrepreneurial ventures. Other graduates also got business start-up package.

A comprehensive approach to empowerment

The OSO Creative Design Academy offers a one-year accredited program that provides vocational training in areas like entrepreneurship, leadership, digital design, and gender equity and empowerment. Students are selected based on vulnerability, primarily coming from rural regions. The curriculum combines technical skills with practical experiences, while also fostering personal growth.

Beyond individual graduates, OSO’s impact is far-reaching. To date, the NGO has created 201 women-led start-ups and established two entrepreneurship hubs, generating 1612 informal jobs. It has also supported over 2,600 secondary school students through health and COVID-19 education initiatives.

Strategic growth for lasting change

As part of its four-year strategic plan, OSO aims to impact 10,000 young women from its Creative Design Academy and agribusiness program, expand its model to all districts of Rwanda, and establish a national Women Entrepreneurship Avenue. Additionally, OSO will be fully boarding school starting next year. OSO envision to be African manufacturing ecosystem on ethical fashion. These ambitious goals align with OSO’s broader vision of fostering a self-reliant, empowered generation of female entrepreneurs.

With each graduating class, OSO moves closer to building a society where young women are at the forefront of sustainable development, shaping not only their futures but the futures of their communities as well.

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