RWANDA MASTER-vimeo from Dave LaMar on Vimeo.
Rwanda partner MASTER-vimeo from Dave LaMar on Vimeo.
Learn more about the overwhelming success of the Rwanda Business Development Center, and the expansion of BDC’s to India and Uganda. Read the two-year report now.
In 2007, the Presidents of four African nations invited ICCC to help them develop their countries. ICCC invited delegations from each of the nations-Rwanda, Burundi, Liberia, and Benin—to meetings in Israel where historic trade agreements were signed. These were the first trade agreements between Israel and African nations since Israel’s 1967 war.
In addition to the trade agreements, ICCC began working with the governments of Rwanda, Burundi, Liberia and Benin to develop projects that address the major needs of each nation. One project common to all four nations is a Business Development Center which will train entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses and provide ongoing support services to insure their success.
Drawing on a long-term relationship between ICCC leaders and Dr. John Mulford, Director of the Regent University Center for Entrepreneurship (RCE), ICCC invited Mulford and RCE to partner in the BDC project. RCE has been training entrepreneurs in developing nations since its founding in 2004. Before that, Mulford served as Dean of Regent University’s Graduate School of Business, where he oversaw program development, faculty recruiting and development, student recruiting, instruction, and student services.
Dr. Mulford and his colleague, Jason Benedict, developed a special curriculum for this project. It emphasizes hands-on learning to prepare aspiring entrepreneurs with the knowledge and
skills they need to succeed in the challenging world of business start ups. Much of the program consists of field assignments where students observe, research, analyze, and test their ideas in the marketplace. Students are able to draw not only on their instructors, but also on visiting business experts from around the world who will meet with students to advise them on their business ideas and plans.
Local experts on Rwandan business practices will visit the class periodically to provide technical information needed for successful business in Rwanda. In addition, some of the students will be experienced entrepreneurs who have run businesses in Rwanda for many years. Younger, less experienced students can learn from these classmates.
The Republic of Rwanda has enthusiastically sponsored this project from the highest levels of the government. The government, operating through the Rwanda Development Board, is providing the training facility for the program and working closely with RCE to identify students, provide information on business regulations, and connect the BDC to the Rwandan private sector.
The BDC will continue to provide mentoring, consulting, and connections to the entrepreneurs after they complete training and start their businesses.
For more information, check out www.bdcrwanda.com
Introducing Five Students from the First Cohort of our Entrepreneurship Training Course, Rwanda
The first cohort of entrepreneurship students at the Rwanda Business Development Center began their studies August 23, 2010. We would like to introduce you to five students who are representative of the whole group. Read their stories. Pray for their dreams. Get involved! We are looking for mentors, teachers, prayer supporters, financial partners… How can you be a part? For more information, write to us at rce@regent.edu.
From 1992 to 2001 I worked in various companies in South Africa, mainly in the finance and administration area. I worked full time and studied part time toward my degree. I started as a creditors’ clerk and left South Africa when I was in the function of accountant.
In 2002, I joined the United Nations Mission in Eritrea, where I was a procurement assistant. I stayed there for 2 years. I led a small group of children and taught them English through a Bible study and fun. I was able to teach various subjects without prior education background.
I would like to start a school to respond to the growing need of first class, individualized education. Lack of schools has forced a great number of learners to go the available institution and not an institution of their choice according to their dreams and abilities.
I started my first business in 1990, teaching computers in Goma/ DRC (Goma-computer Ltd ). I closed my business in order to manage the family transportation and general trading business from 1991-2000, while my father was ill. From 2000-2003, I was a marketing manager of Caltex Oil co., selling petroleum products in Rwanda, Burundi & Eastern Congo.
Since 2003, I have served as managing director of the family transportation business, expanding the company to 25 employees and annual turnover of $1.2 million. Our business is transport by trucks and distribution of fuel through gas-stations.
My goals are to become a servant leader and to become a man of influence for the Glory of Jesus. I want to participate in the capacity building and poverty-reduction of my country and the world. I would like to become a motivational speaker, an international consultant, and I would like to invest in real estate, health care, education and transport.
After my graduation in 2001, I opened a retail pharmacy store called Pharmacie Continentale which is still operational with 10 employees. In 2008, I started a packaging company called SOGEM Rwanda. I am the Managing Director of this company which now has 75 employees. Due to the contacts I made in my pharmaceutical business, I opened another company called Africa Medical Supplier mainly doing importation and distribution of medical reagents, material and consumables to different health institutions. I am the chief executive officer of this company which operates in Rwanda, DRCongo and Burundi.
I also serve as National President of a organisation called JCI-Rwanda (Junior Chamber International) which aims to develop opportunities for young entrepreneurs and leaders in order to create positive change.
My goals are to become successful, be innovative, expand my business, create networks, give back to others, and to create jobs. I think to sustain in business I need to learn more in order to structure in good practice my job and see growth in my companies.
My family is composed of my young brother who is 20 years old, my two nephews (20 and 17), and me. Life had offered to me important experiences; at my six years old I started acting as the family chief. This has helped me to be a leader.
I am running a small business of selling Tortilla chips (from Mexican dish); which I want to improve and extend. I really am proud of being able to start my small business, when I see it I hear a voice telling me\” that is a result from your energy\” and for sure this keeps me courageous , the best is forward!!!
With my 6 friends we are founders of Generation Rwanda entrepreneurship club. This was one of our short goals after a Workshop on Business plan and its implementation with the Private Sector Federation-Rwanda.
For now I am a student in second year of Physiotherapy at Kigali Health Institute. I always have a dream that one day I own a Physiotherapy Clinic.
From 1994 to March 2010, I coordinated the church growth efforts of Evangelical Restoration Church in Rwanda, helping the church to grow from one parish to 40 branches, and providing training and coordination to those branches.
In April of 2010, I started a Ministry named MUTUAL DEVELOPMENT NETWORK M.D.N. which is involved in capacity building, equipping and empowering Christians by encouraging them to use all their strength and to catch all opportunities around them in their communities. I want to get people saved through the impact of Christian good deeds, and to see those people involved in community transformation by applying biblical principles through their lives, experiences, and testimonies.
I am sure this course will help me to increase and shape my mind and spirit so that I may realize my dream by serving people becoming more faithful and successful in doing business in responding to the society or community issues in godly ways.
BDC Rwanda is supported by Regent Center for Entrepreneurship (RCE), the International Christian Chamber of Commerce (ICCC), and their donors and supporters. We have a big vision for transforming Rwanda by starting and growing a thousand businesses that will provide tens of thousands of fulfilling jobs to the people of Rwanda. We need help from those of like mind and vision. There are a number of ways you can volunteer to serve in a Business Development Center
Fill in the form below if you can volunteer to serve in a Business Development Center
Copyright © Regent University, Center for Entrepreneurship. All rights reserved.
Site designed, developed and maintained by FireSky!
Privacy Statement | Terms of Use
