Graduate Support
After completing our 12-month program, graduates continue their journey to empowerment as change-
makers, business owners, cooperative leaders, and advocates. Through graduate support, women
can receive advanced training, access additional resources, improve their vocational skills, and connect
to other graduates for production and employment.
The advanced trainings are tailored to the context and the needs of our graduates, the graduate support
helps foster continued opportunities for women after they complete the Stronger Women, Stronger
Nations program that lasts 12 months. We know that women may need additional tools to overcome
their challenges, especially in starting and growing their businesses, after graduation. Consequently, by
connecting women to financial services, advanced business and vocational training, and support
networks, we increase opportunities to grow their businesses and unlock their full potential.
We help our graduates in both formal and informal ways. Where women struggle with their businesses,
we support them by connecting them with mentorship, advanced training, credit, and markets, and we
support them in learning new technologies such as VSLA digitization as a way of breaking the gender
digital divide that often hinders their development.
Women for Women invests in building capacities in business development, and WfW-Rwanda trains
women on business plan designs and business pitches. After the training women are facilitated to be
part of the business competitions from which the best business plans are awarded with seed money to
expand their businesses. This approach has greatly boosted not only the level of competitiveness among
women but has also increased their confidence and pitching skills. These competitions are specifically
attended by
women graduates working together in savings groups, producer groups, and cooperatives. They are also
supported with leadership and governance training so they can successfully work together to forge new
paths forward for themselves and their communities.
Women for Women Rwanda also plays a big role in building networks and Strengthening Connections to
enable women to acquire the information they need to expand their economic horizons and tap
resources. Every year we organize at least one finance fair and networking event that brings together
different stakeholders including government institutions such as MIGEPROF, MINICOM, and MINAGRI,
members of the private sector such as women’s chamber, financial institutions, donors, women
successful entrepreneurs sister NGOs and women’s representatives, where we discuss on available
opportunities that can be benefited by women micro-entrepreneurs as a way to expand their businesses
and reduce the wealth inequality gaps, and this is a continuous journey to ensure that women reach
their power and economic independence.