We created this innovation to transform learning into livelihood. Too many Rwandans leave school with knowledge but no pathway to income. We’re committed to changing that—by understanding the blockers to startup success and turning passive education into active enterprise, fostering teamwork over solo, and unleashing real startups to fuel Rwanda’s future with purpose, creativity and resilience.
Our innovation is a six-month, hands-on entrepreneurial journey for senior students and recent graduates—groups often left with knowledge but no practical tools to earn income. Rwanda’s school curriculum lacks enterprise skills, resilience, collaboration, and real-world problem-solving. We fill that gap. Participants work in small teams to build real startups—identifying market needs, validating ideas, pivoting quickly and thriving with limited resources. The program replaces dependency with creativity, emotional intelligence, and lean startup thinking. Through role plays, prototyping, improv, and ecosystem mapping, learners build practical skills formal education neglects. We empower youth and adults affected by disrupted schooling to gain confidence and purpose. This innovation transforms passive learning into action, equipping a new generation to build ventures that thrive in Rwanda’s economy. The final outcome is the creation, in small teams, of real businesses destined to impact.
The innovation is spreading across Rwanda through direct outreach to schools, where sessions showcase the program’s impact. Offered free of charge, it ensures equitable access for both youth and adults. The program—both in concept and delivery—is supported at the ministerial level, along with the Rwanda Development Board. It draws credibility from successful Rwandan entrepreneurs who contribute their expertise. Word of mouth and social media are rapidly amplifying its reach. Its strongest appeal lies in making entrepreneurship real and collaborative. The key challenge remains breaking the deep-rooted dependency mindset and the cultural norm of solo businesses that rarely scale. The program’s team-based approach and focus on resilience are helping to shift this narrative.
If you’re curious, visit learnliferwanda.com, listen to the podcast, or apply via the online form to join in Rwanda. You’re welcome to visit and see it firsthand. If you’d like to adapt the program to your context, contact Learnlife Rwanda—our team will gladly share the full curriculum. It’s already gaining global interest for re-engaging youth beyond traditional schooling, bypassing blockers.
