Aline Ishimwe, a 28-year-old entrepreneur, is grateful for the opportunities that Rwanda offers its youth, women, and girls, empowering them to advance and succeed. At just 25, she founded Kalisimbi Cave Resort, a hotel with 12 rooms located in Musanze.
She shared her inspiring journey with attendees during the National Dialogue Council on February 6, 2026, explaining how she became an entrepreneur at such a young age.
Ishimwe studied Information Technology at the University of Rwanda. She was born in Gicumbi District, where she completed her primary and secondary education. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when the world was in lockdown, she thought of a way to stay active instead of simply staying at home.
“When schools were closed and we were all stuck at home, I began thinking about what I could do now that COVID-19 was starting to decline. I didn’t want to keep sitting at home,” Aline recalled.
She decided to visit Musanze District, where she opened a small shop. It didn’t take long for her to realize that Musanze, being a tourist hub, was full of opportunities.
Aline then wrote letters to various hotels in the area, seeking employment. One hotel called her for an interview and hired her as a receptionist. Due to her hard work and dedication, she quickly moved up the ranks and became the assistant manager of the hotel. Later, she was selected for a program by Imbuto Foundation, which trains people in hotel management. This opportunity led her to become the general manager of the hotel where she had started her career.
However, while managing, Aline faced challenges, especially with customers who complained about the hotel’s services. After analyzing the situation, she identified the root cause: the staff lacked adequate training. Aline took the initiative to implement training programs to enhance service quality, which was highly appreciated by the female employees, many of whom gained valuable skills.
Her success inspired her to think even bigger. She began dreaming of becoming a role model for other girls and opening her own business to create job opportunities for others.
“These experiences gave me the strength to dream big. I started thinking about how I could set an example for other girls while also creating jobs for others,” Aline explained.
Initially, Aline considered opening a restaurant, but her colleagues advised her to stick with hotel management, an area she was already familiar with and successful in. After conducting some research, she discovered a hotel that was not operational. With the savings she had accumulated from her salary, she decided to invest in the property, which ultimately became Kalisimbi Cave Resort. The hotel has 12 rooms, a restaurant, and a souvenir shop where tourists can purchase locally made products. Additionally, the resort features an agriculture and livestock section, focusing on growing vegetables and fruits without the use of chemical fertilizers.
In 2024, BPN Rwanda, an organization that supports entrepreneurs, approached Aline to help refine her project. They provided her with training and connected her with other entrepreneurs. Thanks to a partnership between Rwanda and Germany, Aline had the opportunity to travel to Germany for a month and a half, where she gained more knowledge on hotel management and how to meet the needs of international clients.
Aline encourages young people to set clear goals and emphasizes that earning money from your own hard work is rewarding.
“Money from hard work is what we should focus on! Being an entrepreneur doesn’t stop you from living a lavish life, but I believe you’ll find greater joy in doing so with the money from your own efforts,” she said.
She also urged women and girls to remember that they don’t need to engage in indecent behavior to earn money. Aline reminded the youth to remain committed to the “Tunywe Less” initiative, which encourages reducing alcohol consumption or drinking in moderation.
She pointed out that being an entrepreneur and being consumed by excessive drinking do not go together.
“Being a successful entrepreneur requires discipline and focus, and it’s not possible to do that if you are always drunk,” Aline concluded.
