Women in the workforce are trained and supported in competing for leadership positions. Graduates are prepared to compete in the job market while women with small businesses are empowered on how to expand their ventures.
"Lift Her Up" was launched in 2022 by Salma Habib Nkusi, the CEO of Gate Consulting Group, a company that offers business and leadership consulting services.
'A woman has many responsibilities that make her encounter difficult to rise in leadership as a man would. You can see this even with children just finishing school, where the confidence of girl low, even if she has completed her education,' Nkusi said.
The "Lift Her Up" program has three main interventions; the first prepares female graduates to compete in the job market, the second helps women or girls ambitious to start their own businesses while the third supports women and girls in the workforce who seek to advance in their careers. Each year, about 100 women and girls are facilitated through this training.
Gate Consulting Group first assesses the gaps in the development of women and girls and what they want to learn, then connects them with relevant training on a monthly basis.
Successful women in decision-making positions are invited to share their experiences and guide others on the paths they took and what they need to focus on to advance.
At the close of the third phase of "Lift Her Up," which had lasted nine months, the CEO of the Rwanda Development Bank (BRD), Pitchette Kampeta Sayinzoga, and the CEO of Canal+ Rwanda, Sophie Tchatchoua, shared their journeys with participants, discussing how they reached leadership positions.
Marie Aimée Ingabire, who works at Bralirwa and has been receiving training for nine months also shared her experience.
'I have received valuable knowledge, including personal development, professional growth, and leadership. It's a great program, and we wish it would continue to expand so more women can benefit. You get to know yourself, understand the people around you, work towards goals, and more,' she said.
Rwanda has made significant strides in advancing women across various sectors. For instance, the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament has 63.75% women, the Senate has 53.8% women, and Rwanda has allocated 30% of parliamentary seats to women, with the possibility for them to compete for the remaining positions. This is also the case in government sectors.
'We want to promote this initiative, increasing the number of women in all sectors. Additionally, if an opportunity arises, a woman should be given the chance not because she is a woman, but because she is capable. It's a journey, but we are on the right track,' Nkusi said.
In the first phase for graduates, Gate Consulting Group works with universities to support their alumni. For those wishing to become entrepreneurs, the program has a registration process for those who want to be trained.
For women already working, Gate Consulting Group collaborates with their employers to arrange the necessary training.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/lift-her-up-empowering-women-for-leadership-and-entrepreneurship
