Not long ago, it would have seemed almost unbelievable to hear of a young woman achieving great financial success entirely through her own efforts. But times have changed, and Olivia Africa is proof. She founded a soap-making company that now earns her more than she ever imagined.
Becoming self-employed is not a decision made overnight—it takes time, knowledge, capital, dedication, and a strong heart willing to face risks and setbacks. Olivia Africa went through all of this.
Her idea was born during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when she, like many others, was unemployed and spending her days watching films online. But something inside her pushed her to learn something new—something that could transform her future.
While reflecting on possible ventures, she landed on the idea of making soap. However, she had no clue where to start or how to gain the knowledge she needed. She sought help from two people who claimed to know how to make soap, but the instructions they gave her led to poor results—her soap came out hard as a rock and unusable.
Not discouraged, Olivia turned to YouTube and found a woman who was sharing soap-making tutorials. She reached out, and the woman referred her to a professional online course that was both affordable and in-depth. Olivia followed the lessons closely, carefully measuring and mixing the ingredients. The result? Beautifully made soap, crafted by her own hands.
Excited about her progress, she submitted samples to the Rwanda Standards Board for quality testing—but they were rejected. Her product wasn’t yet up to standard.
Disappointed but undeterred, Olivia went back to her online mentor, explained what she had done, and together they figured out what ingredients had been missing. After adjusting the formula, her soap finally passed the quality test and was approved for sale on the market.
Today, Olivia has a growing customer base, and her soap brand is one of the best-selling local products in Rwanda, even stocked by big retailers like Simba Supermarket. What sets her soap apart are its skin-nourishing ingredients like coconut oil and lavender fragrance.
When she first launched her small production operation, she made only about 200,000 Rwandan francs per month. Now, her monthly revenue has reached an impressive 3 million francs.
Her quality products opened even more doors—Olivia participated in the YouthConnekt competition, which promotes innovative business projects. She began at the sector level, won, advanced to the district, provincial, and finally the national level—where she placed second and was awarded 22 million francs in funding. This helped her scale her business and expand her reach.
Today, her company, Skin Paradise, employs 10 full-time workers, as well as additional temporary staff depending on demand. The soaps are made by hand without the use of heavy machinery, cured in designated areas, and are safe for both children and adults.
Speaking with KURA, Olivia shared the challenges she faced—especially when convincing people to try a new soap after years of using imported brands. She would leave free samples so families could try them out. Some people would initially say, “We’re used to imported soap—our skin is sensitive.” But over time, many came to love and trust her product.
Olivia now lives comfortably in Kigali, financially independent and able to support her family and employees, many of whom have also transformed their lives. She’s even able to save money regularly.
“My advice to young people, especially girls who feel afraid to start their own business or think it’s too hard, is this: Learning doesn’t stop at school. The best thing is to build on what you know and add new skills.”
Olivia encourages youth to focus on one project rather than juggling many at once. “No one gets far without investing time, effort, and ideas,” she says. “Believe in yourself. Be patient. You’ll eventually harvest the fruits of your work.”
