In many low-income rural households, education is often cut short. Young people, especially those from vulnerable families, are pulled out of school due to financial constraints. Without the skills or opportunities to contribute meaningfully to household income, they face limited futures. This fuels a cycle of intergenerational poverty, unless deliberate interventions are made.

At Hope of Family, we believe that no young person’s story should end with dropping out of school. That is why we developed the Youth Leadership and Skills Empowerment Program, a pathway designed to equip out-of-school youth with practical skills, economic opportunities, and the confidence to lead change within their families and communities.

Our approach goes beyond economic empowerment. By helping youth rebuild their capacity, we enable them to become role models and change agents; supporting their siblings’ education, breaking cycles of poverty, and igniting hope across households.

𝐂𝐨𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝟏: 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐃𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐬

The first group of youth who joined our program have already proven what’s possible.

• 26 tailoring graduates:

  • 5 have established independent businesses as professional tailors.

  • 21 received sewing machines from Hope of Family and formed savings and credit groups, ensuring financial resilience and peer support.

• 17 welding graduates: all employed; 5 in welding, 12 in related fields such as painting and construction finishing.

• 3 masonry graduates: secured stable jobs, proudly supporting their households.

• Carpentry graduates: all employed and actively contributing to their communities.

These young men and women, once seen as school dropouts, are now entrepreneurs, tradespeople, and role models. Their success is proof that with the right opportunities, every young person can change their story and uplift those around them.

𝐂𝐨𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝟐: 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬

• 67 youth enrolled, all of whom had dropped out of school due to financial hardship.

• Participated in our Leadership Academy, a three-month intensive curriculum covering:

  • Reproductive Health

  • Human Rights Education

  • Entrepreneurship & Leadership

• 51 graduates advanced to technical and vocational training in:

  • Hairdressing (8)

  • Tailoring (6)

  • Masonry (5)

  • Mushroom Production (25)

  • Bike Taxi Operations (5)

Today, these young people are not just working—they are financially contributing to their families, paying school fees for siblings who otherwise might have dropped out. This has had a direct, measurable impact on child education retention rates in their households.

One standout story comes from our mushroom farming graduates. After six months of technical training, a group formed a savings and credit association and began supplying mushrooms to hotels in Muhanga. Today, they earn at least 200,000 RWF per month collectively, reinvesting in their futures while feeding their community.

“We used to struggle at home because we had dropped out of school. But after Hope of Family’s training, our mindset changed. We chose mushroom farming, trained for six months, and started our business together. Now, we feed our community and develop ourselves every day.”
— Victor SINDAYIGAYA, Mushroom Farmer & Program Graduate