The Associazione Progetto Rwanda Onlus was founded in 1998, a few years after the end of the Rwandan Genocide, the tragedy that overwhelmed the country in 1994 and which saw the death of almost a million people. The aim of the association is to carry out projects for the protection of the rights of children and young people and for the empowerment of women, thus contributing to the social, economic and cultural development of local communities.

Over the past ten years, the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation (NaEPF) has developed a close and multifaceted partnership with Progetto Rwanda Onlus, supporting a series of initiatives designed to foster personal resilience, women’s empowerment, and sustainable community development in Rwanda. The partnership has been deeply rooted in the district of Kicukiro, in Kigali, and in the rural area of Kibaya, where it has helped create tangible change through an integrated and coherent programme. This decade- long collaboration has shown how a long-term philanthropic commitment, when grounded in trust, mutual learning and shared values, can generate structural transformation from the resilience of individual women to the renewal of an entire community.

The first project, launched in 2013, focused on expanding the reach of the House of Peace and Reconciliation, a vocational training and social support centre for vulnerable women in Kigali. Training activities in entrepreneurship, cooperative management, and human rights were extended to the neighbouring areas of Busanza and Gatenga, thus removing financial and logistical barriers that prevented many women from participating. This effort was reinforced in the following years through the provision of psychosocial support, family planning education, and business start-up grants, underpinned by a structured model of selection, mentoring, and performance monitoring. The approach addressed both material and emotional vulnerabilities, particularly among women who are single heads of household or survivors of violence and trauma. Supporting micro-entrepreneurship projects for the empowerment of women means enabling them to overcome a state of extreme vulnerability, to become autonomous and, in many cases, to find the courage to escape situations of abuse and domestic violence. Between 2018 and 2023, the NaEPF supported the launch of 113 women-led small businesses, providing training and financial assistance to women transitioning from extreme poverty to entrepreneurship.

Progetto Rwanda Onlus believes that education is one of the main factors for social change and self- development, particularly for young people living in poverty. Adequate education offers the opportunity for an improvement in living conditions in the medium and long term and helps to strengthen the economic and social structure of the country. The female unemployment rate in Africa averages around 45%, about twice as high as the male rate. The development of business-smart solutions is a key strategy to cope with an uncertain economic environment and to open up new opportunities for small entrepreneurs. Compared to the rest of the world, there are very few female-led enterprises in the region. This gap is due to many factors related to the business environment and socio-cultural barriers. However, in spite of its terrible recent history, Rwanda has experienced tremendous growth over the past nine years and has implemented key policies to counter increasing poverty. The involvement and success of women is crucial to the competitiveness of every economic sector.

In 2023, a new three-year program was funded by the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation to further develop and consolidate the business activities of 45 women who had previously participated in the entrepreneurship program and who have demonstrated outstanding entrepreneurial skills in running their businesses.

In a strategic effort to promote educational equity and capacity-building, the NaEPF supported Project ASTER, an initiative designed to enable access to higher education in Europe, particularly in Italy, for high- achieving Rwandan students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. Implemented in collaboration with Bridge2Rwanda and Isomo Academy, the program offers comprehensive support, including academic advising, university application guidance, visa facilitation, and scholarships. Launched in March 2023, Project ASTER selects five of Rwanda’s most promising secondary school graduates each year. Selection criteria include not only academic excellence but also a demonstrated commitment to return to Rwanda and contribute to its sustainable development. The students, often coming from extremely vulnerable family backgrounds represent some of the country’s most resilient and dedicated young talents. Despite the challenges imposed by their socioeconomic conditions, these students consistently achieve outstanding academic results, underscoring the country’s untapped intellectual potential.

Progetto Rwanda Onlus plays a critical role in strengthening the recruitment pipeline, enabling Isomo Academy to broaden the scope of applications to a wider network of European universities. Following the completion of their undergraduate education, students are expected to either pursue postgraduate studies or return to Rwanda to apply their skills. In both cases, they will receive continued mentorship and support from Progetto Rwanda Onlus and Isomo Academy.

Aligned with the NaEPF’s strategic focus on education, economic empowerment, and sustainable long-term social impact, Project ASTER advances the right to education by empowering exceptional individuals to access high-quality education. In doing so, the initiative aims to cultivate a new generation of leaders equipped to foster inclusive growth and social progress in Rwanda.