At 28, Divine Munezero, founder of Ntagwabira Fashion Limited, based in Gisozi, Kigali, is turning her passion for fashion into a growing business. After completing high school in 2017, she pursued a one-year sewing course and also worked as a model. However, her love for designing and creating clothes inspired her to focus on fashion entrepreneurship and build a business of her own.

Before joining Friends Career Center’s SheCreates Fellowship, Divine was already running her sewing business but struggled to secure consistent orders, attract enough customers, and access the resources needed to grow. She also faced challenges in financial management, business planning, and marketing, particularly in tracking expenses and separating personal and business finances.

Through SheCreates, a 12-month program launched in October 2025, Divine received business training, seed funding, and mentorship. She strengthened her skills in budgeting, financial record-keeping, business planning, and customer relationship management. She also learned to use social media more effectively to promote her products and reach potential customers.

“Before joining SheCreates, I rarely used social media to promote my business. Now, I enjoy marketing my products online, showcasing my work, and reaching more potential customers,” said Divine.

The seed funding enabled Divine to purchase an additional sewing machine, fabrics, sewing materials, branded packaging, and eight bridal dresses for rental. These investments strengthened her sewing operations and allowed her to diversify her services.

From Skills to Business Growth

Since joining SheCreates, Divine’s bridal dress rental service has grown from zero to approximately 40 rentals per month, while her sewing services have increased from around 20 to 35 orders per month. She also secured a two-year contract to produce school uniforms, creating an opportunity for more consistent orders and business growth.

Her business has also created employment opportunities. Before joining SheCreates, Divine had one permanent employee and one temporary employee. Today, Ntagwabira Fashion Limited employs three permanent staff members and approximately five part-time workers, depending on workload.

Despite this progress, limited working capital remains a challenge, particularly when handling larger orders and increasing production capacity. Divine hopes to invest in additional equipment and resources to meet growing demand and improve efficiency.

Over the next year, Divine aims to attract more customers, strengthen business operations, and increase production capacity. Her vision for the next two to three years is to transform Ntagwabira Fashion Limited into a larger production company or factory that produces more garments, offers affordable products, and creates additional employment opportunities.

“My dream is to grow my business into a larger production company, increase my production capacity, and create more employment opportunities for others,” shared Divine.

For Divine, SheCreates has provided an opportunity to strengthen her business foundation and pursue her ambitions with greater confidence. Her journey demonstrates how practical training, seed funding, and mentorship can help young women turn their passion into growing businesses that create value and opportunities for others.

Her message to other young women who want to start a business is to believe in themselves, start with the resources they have, and remain committed to learning and improving.

“Building a business takes patience and determination, and challenges should be seen as opportunities to learn and grow. With passion, persistence, and a willingness to seek support, you can turn your ideas into successful businesses and create opportunities for yourself and others.”