Iradukunda Alice is a 25-year-old woman from Kigabiro Sector in Rwamagana District. She sells carpentry and welding equipment at the Rwamagana artisanal market, which has helped her pay for her university education and support her family daily.
She started this business in 2020 after finishing high school, initially working in the artisanal market before becoming self-employed. She began with 700,000 Rwandan Francs (Frw) and now has a capital exceeding 3 million Frw.
Iradukunda told KURA that she has been in the Rwamagana artisanal market for four years. She began by working for others and earning a small wage but eventually became self-employed, doubling her earnings.
She said, “I chose to sell these tools because I believe there’s no job a girl can’t do. The important thing is that the job sustains you, and there are no jobs exclusively for men or women; it’s all about people’s perceptions.”
Iradukunda explained that she used to work for others in the artisanal market, but now she works for herself, knowing that all the effort she puts in benefits her directly. She also mentioned that she can take breaks based on the work she has done and the hours she dedicates to her customers.
Paid for University Education Thanks to Self-Employment
Iradukunda highlighted that one of the significant achievements from working in the Rwamagana artisanal market is paying for her university education entirely through her business earnings.
“I am proud that I paid for my university education thanks to my work here in the artisanal market. Many see us in these uniforms and think there’s no money here, but there is. Previously, I earned 60,000 Frw, but since becoming self-employed, I can earn over 100,000 Frw, showing a clear difference from before.”
Iradukunda mentioned that one of the challenges in her business is operating with very little capital, making it difficult to purchase supplies at the same prices as those buying in bulk.
For instance, when she buys a single sack of nails, she is charged more compared to someone buying 20 sacks, which slows down her business growth.
She advised young girls to overcome their fears because taking bold steps can lead to significant achievements, just as she did.
“I would advise girls to be bold and take on any job, even those considered tough. You meet strong people who can help with the heavy lifting while you do other tasks. We should stop thinking we can only do easy jobs; anyone can do any job as long as they have the will and determination.”
Currently, Iradukunda aims to work hard to increase her stock and expand her business, including selling paint, triplex, and other essential items for carpenters and welders in the Rwamagana artisanal market.
