By Francine Ingabire

I live for a reason, and I am the one to make the change I want to see. Not every woman’s living condition was good to me, so I assigned myself a big task: to create more opportunities for them. This has driven me to establish a non-profit that uplifts and connects women, making a global impact in the community.

My name is Francine Ingabire. I was born and raised in the Gicumbi district, a rural area in the Northern province of Rwanda.

In 2012, at the age of 14, I joined the GLOW Club through the Rwandan Peace Corps. Through this, I met girls my age from different parts of the country and started learning new skills. I had big dreams for my future and knew I wanted to be a changemaker in my life and community. Learning about self-confidence helped me hold leadership roles in my school, and goal-setting skills opened up my path to a university education. I realized I was passionate about community service and investing in women’s abilities.

In 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown, I joined Global GAIN as an intern to learn more about the role of women in leadership. It was a great space to learn and connect professionally, as well as to think about my role in the community I live in. During my internship, my leadership and entrepreneurship skills were developed. In late 2021, together with my fellow young women in the program, we founded Women Gain Rwanda.

Since 2022, I have been the Executive Director of Women Gain Rwanda. So far, we have trained 47 young women in leadership and professional skills, including leadership, entrepreneurship, and digital literacy, as well as 30 young women in vocational training, including tailoring, crocheting, embroidery, baking, and patisserie. We have also supported 200 women from vulnerable families through health insurance support and assisted 5 teen mothers in basic education. Additionally, we have contributed to gender equality and women’s empowerment through advocacy via social media communication.

Being an executive director has been a big challenge—not negatively, but in a way that encourages my growth. Especially since I was young, jumping into this position and being responsible for administrative roles in a small nonprofit is not easy. However, my self-confidence helps me network and speak fearlessly in public.

Not only am I an Executive Director, but I am also currently a student at the University of Kigali, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration and Local Governance. I continue to be a pillar to the people around me by advising my peers, being a thought partner, and offering a shoulder to lean on. I do this with passion and commitment, and I feel that doing all of this is helping me achieve my goal of giving back to others—especially women.

I know that people can learn from me. I advise everyone to stay updated on current events worldwide by reading and learning from what others are doing. I believe that everything we do requires knowing people and seeking information to keep learning.

I encourage others to do the same by finding every opportunity to learn from mentors or people who can provide guidance. But, most of all, believe in the power of collaboration.