Starting your own business can quickly boost development and reduce unemployment among the youth, but some believe there are many obstacles preventing them from becoming self-employed.
While some choose to work for others due to the fear of potential losses from starting their own ventures, others openly state that they are delayed by the need to accumulate enough capital to try their luck at self-employment.
When we spoke with young people who are self-employed and those who work for others, they acknowledged that creating new jobs drives development and is beneficial to the country.
Jackson Mutabazi, who works for others, shared his thoughts on self-employment.
“After finishing school in 2021, I didn’t immediately find work; I stayed home for a year before getting a job. I started as a foreman [supervising construction workers], and after completing the project, I was soon promoted to site supervisor.”
He continued, “The advantage of working for others is not worrying about things like salaries and other expenses. However, the downside is the constant, unchanging salary. If you earn 200,000 Rwandan Francs, it’s hard to reach a million Rwandan Francs, while some of your peers may earn even more.”
Bertrand Buregeya, a student at the University of Rwanda, Nyarugenge campus, works for others but dreams of starting his own company.
“When you don’t work for yourself, it’s challenging because you have to follow your employer’s rules. This includes salary, working hours, and all other guidelines they set. This inspired me to dream of starting my own company that would help people create architectural designs, and as it grows, offer additional services like video and photo production.”
He added, “One reason I want this is that it would give me freedom in financial management and allow me to expand my dreams and ideas.”
Darius Iradukunda, also a student at the University of Rwanda, explained why he chose to work for others.
“I chose to work for others because I didn’t have enough resources to work for myself, but if I find a way to start my own business, I would choose self-employment.”
The benefits of self-employment were emphasized by Arcade Niyonkuru, who works in Nyamirambo. He talked about his achievements, including building his own house, and the numerous challenges faced by those wanting to start their own businesses.
“I do wiring for cars. I help people when their cars won’t start or have other issues. When I finished school, I didn’t know I would do this, but I found it’s done by skilled people.”
Niyonkuru, who owns a shop stocked with car parts, said that despite the hard work it took to get where he is, he is proud of his achievements and can handle any problems that arise.
He expressed a desire to travel to foreign countries to find modern stock and stated that if he had a trustworthy assistant, he could leave his shop in their care.
“The benefits I’ve seen in self-employment include having control over your finances and how your assets are managed without needing anyone’s permission, setting your own working hours, and overall independence. The main challenge youth face in self-employment is finding capital.”
This young man highlighted the significant achievements he has made through self-employment, including acquiring immovable property.
“The first thing I gained from self-employment was my own house. The second was my driver’s license. I have a good life and more.”
Niyonkuru explained that he started self-employment under difficult circumstances, but his goals were strengthened by understanding what he wanted.
He said that challenges did not drain his energy but rather strengthened him, making him one of the youth advisers who encourage others based on his experiences.
He advises youth who wish to become self-employed to “take the plunge and start with what they can. I encourage them to be brave because it’s very possible. One can move from earning 100,000 Rwandan Francs to earning millions. They should be bold because it’s achievable.”
Becoming an entrepreneur requires effort. Some key considerations for aspiring entrepreneurs include preparing a well-thought-out business plan, securing adequate capital, understanding why they chose their products or services, identifying their target customers, figuring out how to deliver their products to those customers, and ensuring proper storage to avoid damage.
It also involves having insurance, business advisors, and other necessary measures.
