Fiona Ange Akariza understands that attending corporate events can be a challenging job—one that requires diligence and strict attention to detail.

Through her skill and passion, she wanted to add her expertise to the industry to ensure that people at these events always get an outstanding experience.

As a student at Vatel Rwanda, pursuing International Hospitality and Business Management, Akariza realised that there was a gap, especially in the way service was delivered at events.

She wanted to revive this business. And so, last year, along with a team of professionals, she started Garah Events, a company working as a resource for corporate and private waiters/waitresses, bartenders and protocols who are professionally trained.

Her services are basically linking the client who wants to get a specific task done at their event, with professionals who can take care of that specific task skilfully.

"To be more specific, we are a group of private bartenders, servers and ushers, whose aim is to invest their expertise, experience, skills and knowledge into making events a success,” she says.

Starting out

When she was venturing into this business, her focus was on the quality of experience that guests receive during events.

"The idea came to me as I realised the events’ industry surely needed more hospitality skills. And since I was going to be a graduate in this field, I thought I would provide an answer. Garah is there not only to supply food and drinks to events, but to also host guests as warmly as they deserve,” she says.

One thing she says she has discovered is that many people think that it doesn’t make so much of a difference for an event whether the staff is skilled or not.

Akariza believes the youth should be at the core of the industry’s growth. / Courtesy

Surprisingly, people think of material necessities when organising an event, like food and beverages more than they take time to find the right staff who will service them exceptionally, she observes, adding that this should, however, be prioritised because who you choose to serve, whether at a small or large event, has the potential to limit or enhance your guests’ luxury and ambience.

When setting out to start this business, Akariza says she was hoping to add value to events by introducing a touch of hospitality in every event that their company services.

"I want people to enjoy and discover what a great combination it is when your guests are both serviced and taken care of by experienced people. I also wanted to create a medium between the hospitality professionals who want to find jobs and the people who are in need of their service. For instance, according to our past records, Garah normally employs about 30 young people a week, which makes it more than 120 people throughout a month. These people who are hired through Garah are not only in for a wage as a prize, but they also also get experience and connections through servicing many events.”

Her take on the hospitality industry

Akariza shares that the hospitality industry is one that is growing in Rwanda, and that the youth should be at the core of its growth.

"We all know that the youth are the cornerstone of every certain development the country needs. So we are the ones to keep and develop its sustainability, that’s why we have to invest in the industry as much as we can. It is in that regard that we came up with the ‘Garah Events’ idea to also make a contribution to our country’s hospitality industry.”

Though her team faced a number of challenges, especially in terms of convincing clients about the essence of their services, Akariza says she had to overcome by compensating with exceptional service.

"We handled this by making a difference at every event that we serviced. We endeavoured to show how more enjoyable and ambient the event was with us there. We slowly overcame, as for every event where we offered our services, we were able to catch more people’s attention who would want the same services for their events, hence building our name as the brand grew,” she highlights.

For the growth of those serving in this sector and industry itself, Akariza notes that there has to support from all partners.

"We need to encourage each other, we need to work in a manner that gives investors way for them to invest.”

She also thinks it relevant to develop a training system such that everyone with a passion for this industry can get the opportunity to gain the knowledge they need to become a part of it.

For any inquiries, you can reach Fiona Ange Akariza on 0785-084-103.