When he graduated from high school in biology and chemistry in 2010, Jean Damascene Okello Kwizera started to train himself on computer literacy. After training on graphic design, he started a business “Art Media Company Ltd” currently located in Bugesera district that hugely expanded thanks to the support from Business Development Fund (BDF). He designs and produce photos, videos, school cards, staff cards, newsletters, books, calendars, advertising banners and others. To improve the skills, In 2011 he went to Makerere University in Uganda where he got a diploma related to graphic design and video production and came back to Rwanda in 2014. He went to many companies looking for a job in Kigali city but ended up in vain. “I thought of setting up my own business. But I had no money to rent working place nor buying other raw materials except a computer and a small digital camera .That is how I got Rwf40,000 loan from my friend and went to rent a house in Nyamata town of Bugsera district,” he narrated. The young entrepreneur said that he produced sample of his products and had to go through the town in different companies and homes marketing the products. His first trials failed and went to operate at home. Fortunately, he met a father whose son was addicted to drug abuse and gave him Rwf80,000 to rent a workplace on condition that he had to train his son on graphic design as a way of fighting delinquency. BDF intervention Although he started such business, he said he had no printer of photos and other necessary equipment. “I used to design photos for clients and then resort to other companies to print them. To be well equipped, I was in need of a printing machine for photo express and other equipment such as tables, chairs, quality cameras and so many others but I had no financial capacity. I had to save a very little income I was generating but I had failed to get Rwf700,000 to buy a quality camera. Fortunately in 2015 leaders invited me to YouthConnekt convention where I met a BDF staff and that is where real transformation of my business started,” he testified. Kwizera was interested in knowing about BDF support to young entrepreneurs since he had tried to get loan from one bank but had no collateral. “This is why I immediately resorted to BDF scheme. It gave me Rwf1million loan. I worked hard until I paid back the loan. By then I had Rwf450,000 on my account and BDF gave me another Rwf3 million loan in 2016. This loan made me who I am today. I bought more cameras, photocopying machines and other equipment. I paid it back in one year,” he noted. The entrepreneur who said that he started earning between Rwf4,000 and Rwf5,000 income every day, thanks to BDF support, the business has expanded in both quality and quantity and with increasing number of clients, his income has increased to between Rwf10,000 and Rwf15,000 per day,” he said. He got another Rwf5 million loan in 2017 and finished to pay it back in 2018. From the loan and other savings, he bought more computers as he had recruited staff and started a training center. “I also started Art Media School to train my staff and other people. After training I employed them and others created their own jobs. I trained 39 students in 2017. I train every three months and give them internship in my company,’ he said. He said some of the trainees had created big businesses in Kigali city, districts of Muhanga, Bugesera, Kayonza and others. “After training I recruited the best performing trainees. I have currently six technicians and two accountants. From the monthly income, my expenses on nine staff, renting and others equal to Rwf1.2 million and I save for myself between Rwf314,000 and Rwf500,000,” he said. The entrepreneur has currently a father of one kid said he has secured his own residential house and owns a car. He has diversified his business by trading photo frames, photo albums and others. “Currently I also have Rwf4 million machine that can print books. In this year I got another Rwf8 million loan from BDF again to largely expand my business. I have also opened Irembo services at my place,” he added. BDF registered over 2084 businesses in 2018 through credit guarantees, grants, Sacco refinancing, quasi equity and leasing. BDF is targeting to support over 4,826 projects worth Rwf 11.5 billion this year, compared to 2084 bankable projects worth over RWF 11 billion last year.
