American investment banking and securities firm, Goldman Sachs, has rewarded Euphrasie Mukanyarwaya for her outstanding entrepreneurial skills which have seen her life and the wellbeing of her family transform remarkably.

The 50-year old who received her award in Washington DC last week, makes necklaces from beads and weaves baskets.

After being enrolled in Women for Women Rwanda, an international humanitarian organisation in 2006, Mukanyarwaya got the opportunity to undergo the Goldman Sachs ‘10,000 women’ training programme which is run in conjunction with the School of Finance and Banking (SFB).

‘10,000 Women’ is a five-year, global initiative aimed at driving economic growth and opportunity by providing 10,000 underserved women with a business and management education around the globe.

Since its launch in March 2008, 10,000 Women has become active in 22 countries including Afghanistan, Brazil, China, Egypt, India and the United States. 

It is from this training that Mukanyarwaya obtained the skills to expand and manage her small business which later became an award winning enterprise.

Speaking to The New Times, she expressed delight for being honoured with the award.

"It is so encouraging to know that what you are doing is recognised internationally,” said a cheerful Mukanyarwaya, who began her business in 2007 with a capital of about Rwf 60,000 (US$ 100).

 She attaches her success to the skills she learnt from the Goldman Sachs programme, including book keeping, marketing, and customer handling, among other things.

The mother of five has been able to put all her children in school with the income she earns from her business.

In an interview, Eugenie Mukunde, the Programme Manager of Women for Women Rwanda, said that the organisation is pleased to see one of its beneficiaries become successful.

"We hope that other women in our programme will emulate her and work hard to develop their businesses,” she urged.

Women for Women – Rwanda has worked in the country since 1997 and so far, about 16,000 needy women have benefited from their programmes.

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