Two Artisan Partners Graduate from 10,000 Women Initiative

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women cohort 8 group graduation photo with (seated, left to right) the Minister of East Africa Community, H.E. First Lady of Rwanda, Rector of SFB, and 10,000 Women program manager Sharolyn Arnett.

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women is a five-year initiative to provide business and management to 10,000 women entrepreneurs around the world. Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Entrepreneur Certificate Program in Rwanda is organized by the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan, in cooperation with the School of Finance & Banking in Rwanda. Indego Africa and 10,000 Women are working together to connect Indego Africa’s cooperative partner leaders with more advanced business education opportunities. 

On July 27th, at the Serena Hotel in Kigali, 10,000 Women held its graduation ceremony for 32 women entrepreneurs from Rwanda’s eighth 10,000 Women cohort. Indego Africa staff and interns, and former 10,000 Women scholars Emelienne Nyiramana and Therese Iribagiza, watched proudly as two more of Indego Africa’s artisan partners, Immaculee Ilibagiza and Josiane Niyitegaka, received their certificates. Both Josiane and Immaculee are members of the Ingenzi Knit Union (IKU), a cooperative union comprised of four knitting cooperatives located in Kigali and Mayange. Josiane and Immaculee are the third and fourth of Indego Africa’s artisan partners to graduate from the 10,000 Women Program. 

In addition, Immaculee is due special recognition. At the end of the program, participants present their business plans with awards given to the five women with the best business plans. Immaculee’s business plan, tailored specifically for IKU, was selected among the top five, the first time that one of Indego Africa’s artisan partners has received such recognition.

Josiane and Immaculee present their well-deserved certificates.

First Lady of Rwanda, Jeannette Kagame, was the guest of honor at the graduation ceremony. She closed the ceremony with a speech on the importance of promoting female entrepreneurship in Rwanda.

Jeannette Kagame and Emilienne Nyiramana meet over a table of Cocoki products.

Support entrepreneurs like Josiane and Immaculee: Indegoafrica.org/donate