Peace Through Business - Rwanda

 

About  |  Applicants  |  Rwanda  |  IEEW   |  PTB Women

Goals:

- To educate women around the globe about ethical and profitable ways to run a business

- To provide women an opportunity for an economic stake in the country

- To teach the principles of democratic governance and respect for human rights

- To promote goodwill and friendship between the United States and Rwanda

 

What:

Three weeks of intense educational training in:

- Economic theory

- Advanced management techniques

- Development of a strategic business plan

 

Criteria:

1. The candidate has to be a women business owner and be and active leader in the business

2. The candidate must be interested in expanding their business or developing a new business

3. The candidate must be proficient in English

4. The candidate cannot have any visa restrictions

5. The candidate must be in good health and able to travel to the United States

 

Phase One - Preliminary Education:

Phase one begins with preliminary education of women business owners while they are still in Rwanda. The preliminary education serves to reach and train a large number of Rwandan women business owners and it qualifies the women that will continue with phase two.


The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women (IEEW) has developed a DVD based, 4 week training course that women business owners can complete in conjunction with women’s associations already established in Rwanda. While providing a top-notched, basic entrepreneurial education, this course provides an opportunity for the Rwandan women to network with each other.


Once the 4-week course is complete, the participant can submit her results along with her application for Phase Two consideration. This provides an opportunity for The Academy to fully evaluate and research the participants for consideration in the Travel Phase.

 

Phase Two - Travel & Education Program

As the final step in the selection process, The Academy of Leadership & Liberty will have qualified personnel in Rwanda to meet the women personally and evaluate their business package. The Academy of Leadership & Liberty and IEEW will then select up to 20 women who have successfully completed the 4 week course.


After the selection is completed, the women, having gone through the visa process will travel from Rwanda to Oklahoma Christian University to begin their class work. Oklahoma Christian professors will spend the next 3 weeks teaching advanced business practices and culminating with the creation of an in-depth business plan. Woven throughout the 3 weeks, activities are planned to allow the students to experience other education and social situations with local women.

 

Phase Three - Mentor Program

Following the 3 weeks of class work, IEEW will match the Rwandan students with American women business owners for a week of mentoring/shadowing. This gives the students the opportunity to implement and experience real world application of the education they received. Great consideration is given at the selection process to insure the Rwandan women are matched to an Oklahoma business woman who will serve as a mentor. At the conclusion of the mentoring week, the Rwandan women will take what they have learned back to Rwanda to not only use in their own businesses but also to teach others how to be more entrepreneurial in their thinking.

For more information about Peace Through Business - Rwanda email: academy@oc.edu