Jeannette Umutoniwase
Jeannette Umutoniwase is a beneficiary of the KCB Foundation’s Igire (2jiajiri) programme in Rwanda, where she was sponsored to study Information and Communications Technology at the Integrated Polytechnic Regional Centre in Kigali. She is the founder of Inzira Dreamz Network, a social enterprise that manufactures affordable African bags, clothes and shoes, by bringing uniqueness to Rwandan products.
The business also mentors young girls to lead them to self-reliance and full employability.
Her business project was awarded Rwf 3 million by KCB Foundation after emerging among the best under Igire Programme in 2018. She was among Top 30 Young Innovators in Rwanda 2017. Jeannette was also selected in the top 40 Young Entrepreneurs in Rwanda by the Accelerator Academy 2018.
She is currently a Youth Leader of an organisation called Educate! in Kamonyi District where she works hand in hand with the Rwanda Education Board (REB) to train and facilitate teachers and students on implications of the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) in Entrepreneurship subject.
She holds certificates in social enterprise and startups from DOT Rwanda and Young Women Academy for Conscious Change by the Global Grassroots Conscious Social Change for women respectively. She is also pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations at Christian University of Rwanda.