The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women.

Fauzia Koshan owns and operates Afghan Decor and Designs shop.

Fauzia believes in offering the best possible products and services at reasonable prices. Her goal is not only to earn money, but to meet the needs of her customers. She sells handmade decorative items from women in Kandahar province which include embroideries and designer cloths. Her primary offerings are embroidered bed sheets, portraits, curtains and other elite design products.

Fakhria Samadi owns a beauty salon in Kabul. Even as women were being persecuted during the Taliban rule, Fakhria earned her diploma in business and moved to Pakistan where she worked and trained in a beauty salon. Upon her return to Afghanistan, she became a licsensed beautician and opened her own beauty shop in 1999. Her salon offers make-up, haircuts and styling, waxing and highlighting. Fakhria wants to learn how to grow her business so she can afford to train new students in the salon business. She currently has 5 employees.

Generations Impact was created to train orphans and former sex workers how to design and create jewelry design and wall hangings. The business will soon include tannery products to further generate income.

Deborah worked in the social department at church and recognized that many needed more help than the church could afford or provide. By working with the poor and a few trusted partners, Deborah created Generations Impact and structured the business to share profits with those who do the work. This allows anyone to be a part of her business. As the trainees become self-supporting, they can move on to jobs that pay more, while continuing to offer service back to Generations Impact socially.

Deborah chose this business to be able to support her family and help others.

Immy owns Dallas Investments Ltd - Kigali, an import-export business dealing mainly with distribution of petroleum products, cement and coffee. Her husband is her partner, and she serves as Managing Director and owns 50% of the business.

Immy opened her business in 1996 and currently has 29 employees.

Nadia Kamwenubusa manages International Travel Agency, which she owns with her mother and father.

The agency originated in 1995 in Burundi, then moved to Rwanda in 2004 and Nadia joined the family business. Since that time, the business has experienced growth and now has 7 employees.

Nadia hopes to learn leadership and management skills from her training with our program.

Promoters Creations / DataPro is a promotional items, corporate wear and apparel company. Joy’s company provides in-house services such as screen-printing and embroidery on t-shirts, caps, uniforms, etc.

By providing these services in-house, Promoters Creations is extremely competitive in their pricing. Her primary customers are government and private organizations. Joy has 2 partners and 4 employees.

Justine Twahirwa owns Horizon Boutique, selling home use products such as soap, tea, salt, bread, cooking oils, etc.

She recognized the need for a supplier of home use products and consumables in her neighborhood. Before she opened her kiosk, her neighbors had to travel a great distance to go to the market.

Her business opened in January 2007 and has two employees. She hopes to learn financial management skills while in training. Justine wants to travel to the U.S. to learn improved procurement skills from training, mentorship and networking with other women.

Uwamwezi owns African Wood Enterprises. It is a family wood workshop which makes and provides home and office furniture, parquet floors, partionings and ceilings.

After recognizing the need for a fine furniture maker in Rwanda, Uwamwezi and her husband took out a loan and built the workshop, hiring qualified designers and carpenters. They have been open since 2002 and have 54 employees.

Uwamwezi is a full partner and functions as the administrator plus handles sales and marketing.

Jackie Uwera owns Kigali Dietary Consultancy. She provides counseling to special cases, advising on the dietary needs of children 6 months to 12 years and chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity.

She began her business in June 2007 and has 2 employees. She hopes to learn networking skills as she participates in the training in-country.

Nicole owns Kaze Rwanda, a small cultural creative arts and crafts business. Kaze Rwanda’s mission is to “Make Rwanda Known”. Started in November 2006 as a sole proprietorship with 2 employees, has now expanded adding a third employee. Purchasing well hand-made products from women who are also genocide survivors adds a meaningful element to the day-to-day business. Primary customers are government and corporate clients purchasing gifts and interior design items.

Nicole hopes to organize the crafts people to better supply the sales industry.

Nicole’s secret is “Passion, Perseverance and Parnership”. She hopes to learn better management skills and be paired with a mentor to help her grow her business while socially impacting her country.