From informal garage work to manager at one of Rwanda’s leading automotive companies, Apolonie Mukarukaka has built a career defined by resilience, discipline, and determination. The resident of Nyarugenge District now oversees spare parts operations at Rwandamotor, managing inventory and ensuring the smooth running of daily activities. It is a role she has grown into over years of dedication, practical experience, and unwavering commitment. Her journey into the automotive industry began in informal garages at a time when women in mechanical work were a rarity. Without formal technical training, Mukarukaka learned on the job—observing, assisting, and steadily developing her skills through hands-on experience. What began as simple exposure gradually evolved into a lifelong career. Her consistency, reliability, and work ethic eventually opened doors at Rwandamotor, where she took on increasing responsibilities before rising to her current position as Spare Parts Store Manager. ALSO READ: How two women are shattering gender barriers in ‘jobs for men’ Now 65 and a mother of three, Mukarukaka draws on a wealth of experience earned on the workshop floor rather than in the classroom. Her professional journey has been shaped by patience, discipline, and a steadfast commitment to continuous learning. In an interview with The New Times on the occasion of Labour Day, Mukarukaka shared a message to young people, especially women and girls. She cautions against waiting for corporate jobs that may never come. Instead, she encourages them to seize available opportunities, work diligently, and build their careers step by step. For Mukarukaka, dignity in labour is earned through consistency, discipline, and perseverance. Her story reflects Rwanda’s broader efforts to promote gender equality and expand women’s participation across all sectors of the economy, including technical and vocational fields where women have historically been underrepresented. ALSO READ: Breaking barriers: Truck driver’s daughter becomes excavator operator As Rwanda marked Labour Day under the theme of celebrating the value and dignity of work, Mukarukaka’s journey offers a powerful reminder: meaningful careers are often built not by where one starts, but by the determination to keep moving forward. Her life’s work stands as a testament to the transformative power of persistence—and to the lasting respect that honest labour can earn.
