37554 경북 포항시 북구 흥해읍 한동로 558 한동대학교
Tel: 054-260-1111
Fax: 054-260-1149
Fax: 054-260-1149
“Rwanda’s notable business environment cannot be benefited by majority people if entrepreneurship skills are not encouraged and nurtured especially among the youth,” argues Prof. Chang Soon Heung, the President of South Korean leading institute of higher learning, Handong Global University.
The renowned Korean scholar made the remarks during his visit to Rwanda on February16th.
Professor Chang’s visit aimed at engaging various local university Principals on how to introduce entrepreneurship courses in their respective institutions under a program known as Rwanda-Handong Entrepreneurship Center (RHEC).
During the visit, Prof. Chang met various leaders of Institutes of higher learning in Rwanda including Manasse Mbonye of the College of Science and Technology, Eng. Diogène Mulindahabi of the Integrated Polytechnic Regional Center (IPRC-Kigali), Benoit Girardin of the Protestant Institute of Arts and Social Science, and Principal Papias Musafiri Malimba of College of Business and Economics.
Chang argues that through the project, Rwandans will be imparted with knowledge that can facilitate creation of jobs to improve people’s improve welfare and the same time contribute to the growth of the economy.
Part of the support will include financial help for business ideas that will be deemed viable with potential to be profitable and induce development in their respective communities.
However as Mr. Chang shared, besides capital focus should be placed on developing viable ideas, because with these money can be for found from many platforms including from equity financiers.
The Korean university says they have secured funding that will be extended to potential business plans in Rwanda with capital needs ranging from US$ 1000 TO US$ 5000.
“I understand that people here have good business ideas but are unconfident due to either lack of experience or startup capital. These are among the major reasons why we are introducing RHEC in order to assist these potential ideas to become.”
Handong University has in the past carried out several capacity building programs in multiple countries in Africa and Asia including Kenya, Laos and Cambodia in close cooperation with local universities, and a similar program is now being sought for Rwanda.
Since his ascension to the Presidency of the University in February 2014, Professor Chang Soon-Heung has specifically promoted 10 projects focused on startup businesses with a purpose of strengthening regional markets through establishing a link between education and employment as a vital ingredient in stimulating creativity in an economy.
RZ Manna, a Bakery and café business in Kigali is one of the entrepreneurship projects that were founded by and are run with support from Handong University.
As a social enterprise, RZ Manna aims at imparting Rwandan youth who go through it with management skills among others.
According to Ambassador Soon-Taik Hwang of South Korea to Rwanda, his government’s support to RHEC is a certain adding that several other projects like RZ Manna under this program will be established in the near future.
The ambassador acknowledged RZ Manna’s good performance which he says has offered a good precedence that will be based on to establish other similar enterprises.
RZ Manna Managing Director Saesaem Jeong agrees that the business is has registered progress and currently receives averagely 250 customers each day.
Also, as a social enterprise the café has invested in its employees and as of current at least each member of staff boasts of skills in customer care services, which is a key ingredient to entrepreneurship.
“We employee 30 people but the benefits of the employment to their livelihoods reach over 200 people within their families,” she remarked.
In the medium term however, the Korean management of the Bakery and café intends to hand over the business to local ownership through a government institution which is yet to be identified.
In the short term, a local manager will be recruited from among the employees to be trained and prepared to manage the enterprise.
While all this transfer of management awaits, the cafeteria is relentlessly improving its products and services and as of March 2nd 2015, it added to its pastries and drink offerings international cuisines from Italy, Korea and a variety of other cultural dishes globally.
Also, the Café has also improved its facilities and now include; a couch area where families can be served and entertained, serene meeting places for business and other conventions, a garden and a balcony area with good views of the beautiful sceneries of Kigali.
RHEC is a brainchild of Handong Global University with support of the Korean Government and in partnership of the Rwandan government under the supervision of UNITWIN, a United Nations corporation.
UNITWIN is a University Twinning and Networking Programme established in 1992 based on decisions taken at the 26th session of UNESCO’s General Conference.
The program aims to advance research, training and programme development in all of UNESCO’s fields of competence by building university networks and encouraging inter-university cooperation through the transfer of knowledge across borders.
By MATTHEW RWAHIGI
Posted 20th March 2015
