Our Sisters’ Opportunity: Entrepreneurial women leaders for social change

Problem

In Rwanda, only 21% of girls complete upper secondary education, and 34% of the population in Gakenke district lives in poverty. Negative gender norms result in low access to socio-economic opportunities for young women in rural areas, resulting in a higher unemployment rate among females (18.5%) and youth (18.8%). Before participating in OSO’s Creative Design Academy, the women’s average monthly income is $3.43 with $0.64 average monthly savings.

Solution

Our Sisters Opportunity (OSO) addresses these challenges through a one-year, accredited training program. Their mission is to transform communities by providing vulnerable young women with the holistic skills, tools, and resources they need to create sustainable livelihoods in design and ethical fashion. The courses at the academy include creative digital design, entrepreneurship, ICT, leadership and life skills. OSO also addresses social barriers to women’s empowerment through collaborative gender-based violence prevention programs and awareness dialogues on sexual and reproductive health and rights.

This year, they built a dormitory and turned the program into a residential program for participants with long commutes and/or difficult family situations. OSO is also connecting this rural area to larger markets and stands out with its focus on ethical and sustainable fashion. They ensure that participants can apply the skills they have learned and generate income through post-graduation mentorship. The organization has a robust M&E system, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative data. Agency, environmental beliefs, and self-governance skills show statistically significant improvements.