When Aline Ishimwe looks at her journey in hospitality, she does not only see the growth of a tourism business. She sees a process of gaining skills, building experience and applying knowledge to create a business that contributes to Rwanda’s tourism sector.
Today, Aline is the founder of Kalisimbi Cave Resort, a tourism facility located in Musanze District that combines hospitality, culture, nature and locally based experiences.
Her growth as a tourism entrepreneur was supported through Grow 2 Scale (G2S), a five-year programme implemented by AFR, ESP and BPN Rwanda in partnership with Mastercard Foundation. The programme focuses on supporting entrepreneurs, particularly women-led micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), by improving access to business skills, markets, finance and networks.
Grow 2 Scale aims to place 44,600 young people in dignified and fulfilling work, with targets of 70% women and 5% persons with disabilities and refugees.
Within the programme, BPN Rwanda focuses on accelerating the growth of women-led businesses in the agriculture and tourism & hospitality sectors, supporting business growth, job creation, skills development and financial inclusion.
For Aline, the programme provided practical knowledge that helped her strengthen how she manages her business.
“The first thing BPN taught me was separating my personal money from the money of my business so that the business can grow,” she said.
From information technology student to hospitality professional
Born in Gicumbi District, Aline completed her primary and secondary education before joining the University of Rwanda to study Information Technology.
However, when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted education, she started looking for ways to continue developing herself.
“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,” she recalled.
She later moved to Musanze, a district she identified as having opportunities because of its growing tourism sector. The presence of attractions such as Volcanoes National Park and Musanze Caves influenced her decision to explore opportunities in hospitality.
Her first business activity was a small shop selling Irish potatoes. However, as she observed visitors coming to Musanze, she began considering how she could participate in the tourism sector.
Learning hospitality from the ground up
Aline’s entry into hospitality started at the frontline.
She applied to different hotels seeking employment opportunities and was hired as a receptionist. Through commitment and continuous learning, she gradually took on additional responsibilities, including serving guests as a waitress.
Her experience and dedication helped her access hospitality training and later benefit from a hotel management programme by Imbuto Foundation.
The training and experience helped her develop professionally until she became the general manager of the same hotel where she had started.
During this period, Aline realised that hospitality was not only about providing services to customers but also about developing people.
She noticed that young women joining the sector often looked at her leadership position as an example.
“I used to have many young girls who came to work there, those who came for internships, and we would talk. They would tell me that the first thing that inspired them to study hospitality was reaching a place and seeing a woman who was a hotel manager doing it successfully,” Aline said.
The experience influenced her decision to create her own business and contribute to creating more 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,” she explained.
Building Kalisimbi Cave Resort
After gaining experience in hospitality management, Aline decided to use her skills to establish her own tourism business.
She identified a non-operational hotel facility and began transforming it into Kalisimbi Cave Resort.
The resort now provides accommodation, restaurant services, locally made products, spa services and agricultural activities. It also offers tourism experiences connected to Rwanda’s culture, nature and local communities.
Located in Musanze District, the facility provides visitors with access to attractions including Volcanoes National Park and Musanze Caves while promoting locally sourced products and experiences.
For Aline, the goal was not only to create a place where visitors stay, but also to develop a tourism experience that connects guests with Rwanda’s environment and communities.
Through Grow 2 Scale, Aline accessed support designed to help entrepreneurs improve their business operations and prepare for sustainable growth.
BPN Rwanda implements different programmes under G2S depending on the stage of business development.
For growing businesses in tourism, hospitality and agriculture, the Step Up Programme provides business management training, sector-specific training, executive coaching, staff training, networking opportunities and access to finance. Mastercard Foundation – BPN Rwa…
The programme is designed to help entrepreneurs develop stronger business structures, improve decision-making and build resilient enterprises. Mastercard Foundation.
Through this support, Aline strengthened her understanding of financial management, business planning and operational improvement.
The programme also connected her with other entrepreneurs and exposed her to new approaches in hospitality management.
Creating opportunities for women in tourism
Aline’s business also focuses on increasing opportunities for women in hospitality, agriculture and tourism.
Through Kalisimbi Cave Resort, she aims to provide an environment where women can gain employment opportunities, develop skills and participate in the tourism sector.
Her experience reflects the broader goal of Grow 2 Scale, which supports entrepreneurs in building businesses that contribute to employment creation and economic inclusion.
Aline Ishimwe’s journey shows how professional experience, entrepreneurship training and access to support programmes can help transform ideas into sustainable businesses.
From working directly with hotel guests to managing her own tourism facility, she has used skills gained throughout her career to build a business within Rwanda’s growing hospitality sector.
Through Grow 2 Scale, entrepreneurs in tourism and hospitality can access business training, coaching, networking opportunities and other forms of support aimed at strengthening their enterprises.
Women entrepreneurs and youth-led businesses interested in developing their enterprises can explore opportunities available through Grow 2 Scale and apply for programmes designed to support business growth through BPN Rwanda.
Aline is the founder of Kalisimbi Cave Resort
After gaining experience in hospitality management, Aline decided to use her skills to establish her own tourism business
