DOT celebrates 20 years of establishment with 11 years working in Rwanda, Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) has benefited over three million youth with 70 percent of women through various projects such as Daring to Shift, Gera Ku Ntego Competition, and the youth street team program among others. During the ITUWDC, Partner2Connect; DOT also pledged to impact a million other people by 2025

DOT aims at supporting youth to become innovators and leaders in their communities and to leverage technology to create and apply digital solutions. DOT commitment remains to ensure that all underserved and disadvantaged young women and men realize their potential in an inclusive technology. All rooted in the organization’s mission and vision, DOT Rwanda projects are in all 30 districts of Rwanda and are impacting different youth categories. On their Tour, DOT Rwanda Deputy director; Dr Emmanuel Nzeyimana and Stakeholder Relations Specialist of DOT Global, Emma Edwards met four youth who participated in their different programs

The beneficiaries who shared their success stories through DOT considered it a life changer in their businesses as well as the community.

A trainee in Film and Tv production at Women tv during the graduation on June 10.

Christine Nikuze, who owns a hair salon in Rulindo District, is among the Daring to Shift beneficiaries. This is a four-year programme that was launched last year and aims at placing young women at the center of inclusive growth.

In Partnership with the Government of Canada, through Global Affairs Canada, the project aims to enhance the economic inclusion and resilience among unemployed and underemployed youth particularly young women and their communities.

Nikuze said within the four months, she learned a lot which helped her to achieve a lot for her business, describing it as a life changer.

"I learned how I can advertise, do online shopping as well as communicate with my clients using technology,” she said.

Inside hair salon by Christine Nikuze receive the delegate of DOT's officials during the Press tour on June 10, 2022.

In addition, she pointed out that this programme has facilitated her to know how to market her business using social media as well as ordering various materials for her stuff among other benefits.

Commenting on the impact of the DOT Rwanda project, she disclosed that this has transformed her life financially, technologically and business mind as well as created solutions in her community.

Nikuze urges fellow women to embrace technology, arguing that it can transform their lives.

Jovite Haragirimana, another beneficiary who is now running a small shop commended DOT for the initiative which has helped him to know more about the use of technology in business and providing better services among others.

In addition, he revealed that following the training he acquired, he was able to change his business model to ensure he moved with the times, which made it more profitable.

Digital champion and business coach, Fabrice Hafashimana who has trained beneficiaries in Rulindo District under the ‘Daring to Shift' program said that they trained over 120 beneficiaries in four centers.

Inside the shop for Jovite Haragirimana, a beneficiary who is now running a small shop due to training gained in DOT's program on June 10, 2022. Dan Nsengiyumva

Hafashimana mentioned that they trained them how to use the material they had such as smartphones in online shopping, advertising, and skills related to business among others.

Phabiola Mukundente, commonly known as Mimy Photographer, the CEO and founder of Women in TV, is among the beneficiaries who were trained during the Covid-19 pandemic under the youth street team programme.

Mukundente indicated that through this programme she was trained on self-confidence and how to make a business plan as well as got funds that facilitated her to expand her business.

"The initiative was introduced in the Covid-19 period when we encountered losses due to the pandemic but after joining the programme and getting training as well as funding, things have changed for better,” she reiterated

She revealed that her dream is to empower women in the photography sector among others.

So far, Mukundente has a training center that trains women and girls in photography and videography in general and the first cohort of 24 students has graduated.

Same as her fellow beneficiaries, Clementine Mukamana who is part of the DOT Social Entrepreneurs said that the prototype funding helped her to boost her business, and as a way forward she aspires to expand it.

Fabrice Hafashimana trainer, Jovite Haragirimana a beneficiary, Dr. Emmanuel Nzeyimana deputy Director of DOT Rwanda, and Emma Eduards Stakeholder Relations Specialist at DOT during the press tour in Rurindo district on the June 10

Mukamana's business is in the area of food processing, where they produce ginger powder, cookies, and snacks among other products.

In addition, said that technology has helped her to market as well as sell her products online while she is still looking for a way to expand and still testing her market.

She also commended DOT for support and looking for a word to work hard to make it to five winners who will be awarded seed funds in the next stage.

According to DOT this prototype funds in the 4th edition of gera Ku Ntego among 40 graduates who were being linked to Incubators and Accelerators through mentorship and coaching and will be supported to launch and grow sustainable enterprises.

This year, among these 40 aspiring young entrepreneurs, 10 will be selected and awarded funding to launch their Minimum Viable Products.

Then those 10 young entrepreneurs will also compete, and 5 winners will be awarded seed funds.

DOT message

The tour was held on June 10 and gathered various officials from DOT such as Dr. Emmanuel Nzeyimana, the Deputy Director of DOT Rwanda, and Emma Edwards from the head office in Canada, who represented the Founder and CEO of the organization, Janet Longmore among others.

They all commended the beneficiaries for using the opportunity, knowledge as well as skills, and technology to transform their lives and the community and encouraged them to aim higher along with assuring them continued support.

DOT in WTDCE

Edwards was in Rwanda specifically to attend the   World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC) being held in Kigali from 6 to 16 June 2022 under the theme "Connecting the unconnected to achieve sustainable development”.

During this meeting, DOT pledged to continue their work and to ensure that more people have 21St century digital skills.

DOT’s pledge: "As an organization committed to digital inclusion, women’s empowerment and the potential of young people as leaders of change, Digital Opportunity Trust, and its network of thousands of young leaders, commits to building digital ecosystems in support of 1 million people in marginalized communities in Africa and the Middle East and empowering these young people with digital literacy and 21st-century skills by 2025”.