Jean-Claude Bizimana’s journey to entrepreneurship started in Nyamirama Sector, a poor neighbourhood in the outskirts of Kayonza, where he was born 27 years ago.

At only 15, he decided to venture into the business of repairing and cleaning shoes on the roadside much to the astonishment of his peers who poked fun at him.

"When I started the business, my villagemates laughed at me and sometimes hurled insults at me. It was so discouraging, but I gave it a try. Some people thought I was on the road to beg because there were no clients bring shoes for repair after all. I could spend hours without a client coming my way,” Bizimana says.

Today, the 27-year-old man is the proprietor of a vibrant enterprise that makes sandals from old tyres.

Growing up in his neighbourhood, Bizimana was part of the statistics — categorised as unemployed youth without employable skills. In his peri-urban area, some of his agemates were even in a more precarious situation as street children — perhaps the most vulnerable younger people in any society.

Never say die

But instead of resigning to his fate and perhaps degenerate into substance abuse — one area younger people in such situations find resort to for solace — Bizimana chose to exploit available resources to make a living.

In his neighbourhood, he realised there were very many old tyres lying around. So, he did not need capital to start; all he needed was his in-born artistic skill to cut the raw materials to shape, stitch them together and send the finished product to the market.

So, using old that tyres that were increasingly becoming a danger to the local environment, Bizimana managed to turn around his life from hopelessness into a life of an entrepreneur. His vision is to build a modern factory that makes internationally marketable sandals from recycled old car tyres.

Bizimana’s business idea was fuelled by the search for something distinct yet attractive to customers — and above all one that was less costly to enable him get returns quickly.

He found the answer in old tyres strewn around his slums. That was enough to establish an enterprise that has since then changed his livelihood and lifestyle.

Source of inspiration

Reflecting how he started, Bizimana says he drew inspiration from his parents who often worked hard to ensure the children had food and all basic needs.

"My mother and father were hard working people. I grew up watching them working hard as ordinary peasant farmers growing crops for home consumption…but managed to feed a family of 10. They set an example for me to work hard using whatever I had.”

He says his parents are his role models whose attitude to work he follows till today.

His parents believed that one could always do something whatever resource available; however small. That is why he started as a shoe repairer for three years before venturing into his new business. His thinking was that if he can repair what others made, he too could create his own brand.

His goal

"The whole idea was to make something using my hands and using local materials to make finished products,” he says.

In addition to old tyres, he uses natural fibers and hand-made fabrics to make sandals for the local market.

His designs are popular and seem to change with the tastes of his clients in the local community.

Bizimana says that he makes about 10 pairs per day which he sells at between Rwf 1,500 and Rwf2,000.

Proceeds from this business have pushed Bizimana to tower above average folks in the community.

"I am doing well and looking forward to start up small scale industry in the future. I am working hard trying to expand my working facility. The demand is there; it’s up to me to take advantage and make more money,” Bizimana said.

Making a fortune

Bizimana, the father of one, has managed to build a family house, bought land on which he planted a banana plantation and is a proud owner of Toyata pick-up truck.

He says life has been improving since he started the tyre business, noting that he owes all this to hard work.

"I never resigned or took life for granted, but worked hard since ever since my parents died. I saved every single coin that was not spent on daily bread. I never had time for luxury in life but I don’t regret because it has helped me successfully manage my business,” Bizimana notes.

As the business grows, he plans to build a small-scale manufacturing plant which he hopes to employ up to 100 people to help lessen the burden of work on him.

"The work is so demanding since I have to make the sandals on weekends and go to sell in local markets in the province. Although I don’t get enough time to rest, I really enjoy my work because of what I get at the end of the day,” he explains.

Local leaders laud Bizimana’s initiative as a good example for the youth to emulate by coming up with ideas that do not require a lot of money but just their skills.