Friday May 9th 2025, Jesuit Urumuri Centre (JUC) held a vibrant and inspiring incubation meeting at its premises, bringing together selected youth beneficiaries from the 4^th cohort training, and successful alumni of the Youth Empowerment Project. The gathering was part of  JUC’s continued support for young entrepreneurs as they transition from training to implementation.

Fifteen beneficiaries recently selected for incubation—were warmly welcomed for a focused session designed to support the early stages of their entrepreneurial journeys. This incubation phase is a critical step, providing structured guidance and mentor-ship as the young entrepreneurs prepare to launch their businesses.

Adding a practical and motivating element to the meeting, JUC invited four alumni from past cohorts to share their experiences. These individuals have gone on to build thriving businesses and were eager to give back by offering encouragement and insight.

Among the speakers was Thierry Ndungutse, a graduate of the first cohort, who has established a flourishing furniture business with two branches in Kigali. His enterprise now employs 20 permanent staff, along with several casual workers. Thierry shared his journey, highlighting the importance of persistence and discipline ; “Carpentry is a dirty job, when you are a hard-worker, you look dirty on your clothing, but then the pockets are good, you make money. Be vigilant in your area of interest, be on the look out for opportunities and be innovative always, you will succeed.”

Justin Ndagijimana, from the second cohort, who runs a successful leather shoe-making business, spoke about the challenges of maintaining quality and consistency and how networking and marketing have been key to his growth; “ I started off by making one pair of shoes and giving it out for free, the recipient came back and ordered two pairs of shoes which he paid for, then more people kept approaching me thanks to this word of mouth marketing.” He said, “The biggest failure in entrepreneurship is caused by discouraging yourself, start with what you have now and little by little you will get there.”

Pacifique Uwitonze, a third cohort graduate and founder of a media house that produces content for TV stations and documents events, shared how creative thinking and team collaboration helped him carve out a space in a competitive field. “Taking part in training taught me how to reach customers. We offer quality content on lower prices compared to market prices and thus get many clients.” Pacifique, who now employs three other young creatives also encouraged incubating beneficiaries to have registered businesses and to pay taxes as failure to do so can result in loss of the business at the drop of a hat.

Finally, Solange Mukantwali, also a third cohort graduate is a passionate crocheter and designer. She described her path from learning the skill to opening a well-performing shop in the heart of Kigali’s central business district. Her story highlighted the power of turning a hobby into a sustainable source of income.

The session was a rich exchange of experiences, lessons, and encouragement. It provided the incubating beneficiaries with a clearer picture of what lies ahead and affirmed that with dedication and creativity, their own business ideas can also thrive. Beneficiaries shared that they had been highly enlightened and encouraged.

JUC remains committed to supporting youth as they take courageous steps toward self-reliance and community impact. Following this incubation meeting, JUC will meet with them again this week to provide funding for start-ups to ensure that they not only dream but also realize their potential through enterprise and innovation.

By, Henriette Mushimiyimana,

JUC Communications Officer.