A Different Kind of Leader

 

Not all leaders wear suits or sit in big offices. Some lead from the streets, the markets, and small neighborhood corners. That’s exactly the kind of leader Clarisse Iradukunda is.


She’s only 27, but in her community of Kimisagara, everyone knows her name. Not because she’s famous, but because she shows up. Whether it’s a youth meeting, a community clean-up, or a family in need, Clarisse is always there quietly making a difference.


Her journey started during COVID-19. Many families were struggling, especially young people who had dropped out of school or lost small jobs. Instead of complaining, Clarisse started gathering people around her. She called a few friends, and they began making soap from local ingredients. At first, it was just to help families stay clean. But soon, it became something bigger.


That small group became Twese Hamwe Cooperative a youth-led project focused on skills like tailoring, gardening, and small business. They didn’t wait for outside help. They started with what they had: energy, creativity, and teamwork.


Clarisse didn’t make herself the boss. She made herself a mentor. She teaches others how to lead, how to organize, and how to believe in their ideas. When someone joins the group, she doesn’t ask for experience she asks, “What do you care about?” Then she helps them grow from there.


What I love most about Clarisse is that she’s not trying to be perfect. She’s real. She makes mistakes, learns, and keeps going. She says,

Leadership is not about being in front. It’s about Thanks to her, more than 30 young people now have daily income, and at least 12 girls have returned to school through the group’s support. One of them, Dative, now runs a small chicken business that feeds her whole family.

Clarisse may not be in Parliament or on TV, but she’s a real leader. The kind of leader Rwanda needs and already has.

Written by Aline Niyigena 



#women leadership#womenpower#weareunited#hardwork


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