Rising with YEFFA: How DAM Bakery is Empowering Youth in Northern Rwanda

In the picturesque town of Musanze, Northern Rwanda, the aroma of fresh bread, cakes, and chapattis signals more than just a good day for local customers—it tells the story of determination, resilience, and youth-led innovation. At the heart of this story is DAM Bakery, a rising bakery business founded by three ambitious young people: Desire, Aziz, and Mordecai—the inspiration behind the name DAM.

The trio, originally from Gatsibo District in Rwanda’s Eastern Province, launched their bakery business in October 2024 after participating in entrepreneurship training facilitated by Akazi Kanoze Access (AKA) under the Youth Engagement for the Future of Food and Agriculture (YEEFA) project. YEEFA is a transformative initiative funded by AGRA and the Mastercard Foundation, designed to unlock employment opportunities for youth in Rwanda’s agri-food systems.

“The best way to predict the future is to create it,” says Isingizwe Mukiza Desire, a university student at the University of Rwanda – Nyagatare Campus, and co-founder and managing director of DAM Bakery. “That quote became my compass after joining the entrepreneurship training with Akazi Kanoze in 2024. It gave us not only skills but a belief that we could make our dreams real.”

From Idea to Impact
What began as a classroom idea has grown I nto a vibrant youth-led enterprise. DAM Bakery specializes in flour-based products such as bread, cakes, doughnuts, chapattis, and also offers cake decoration services for events. Since its launch, the business has already:

• Processed and sold over 1,000 baked goods within the first few months.
• Built a loyal customer base through social media and word-of-mouth.
• Partnered with local schools and community events to supply fresh bakery products.
• Participated in exhibitions that showcase youth-led businesses.

“We knew Musanze had a strong market potential, so we decided to base our bakery here,” says Desire. “It was a bold move, but we believed in the vision—and more importantly, in each other.”
The company is also creating short-term job opportunities for local youth and is poised to become a model for youth-driven business development in Rwanda.

Empowered by YEEFA and AGRA
The journey of DAM Bakery would not have been possible without the guidance, mentorship, and technical support offered through the YEEFA project. Delivered by a consortium of six implementing partners—including Akazi Kanoze Access (AKA), Rwanda Youth in Agribusiness Forum (RYAF), ADC, ABUSOL, YEAN, and Empower Rwanda—YEEFA is focused on empowering youth, especially young women, to succeed in agriculture-related value chains.

“The training from Akazi Kanoze Access changed our lives,” Desire explains. “We learned how to start and run a business, how to manage finances, and how to think creatively. AGRA and Mastercard Foundation, through YEEFA, gave us more than knowledge—they gave us a future.”

In addition to entrepreneurship training, Desire also benefited from technical skills training in flour processing, delivered through APEFE Rwanda. This hands-on support enhanced the operational side of the bakery, boosting both product quality and production efficiency.
Growing Through Challenges

While DAM Bakery has made significant strides, the team continues to face challenges, including:
Limited access to modern bakery equipment, such as dough mixers, baking ovens, refrigerators, and proofing cabinets.
Lack of a permanent, well-equipped workspace.

Financial constraints that hinder scaling efforts.
Despite these hurdles, the founders remain determined and optimistic.
“We do most of the work manually, and our space is small, but our dream is big,” Desire shares. “We believe that with continued support, mentorship, and access to programs like YEEFA, we will scale this bakery into one of Rwanda’s top flour-based product brands.”

A Recipe for Youth Empowerment

The success of DAM Bakery is one of many examples emerging from the YEEFA project. With over 300,000 youth registered on the YEEFA platform so far—70% of them young women—the initiative is redefining what youth employment looks like in Rwanda. Youth are gaining vital work readiness skills and entering value chains such as horticulture, poultry, grain aggregation, and food processing.
“DAM Bakery is proof that with the right support, youth don’t have to leave their communities to find success,” says an official from Akazi Kanoze. “They can create jobs, add value locally, and become role models for others.”

Looking Ahead
As DAM Bakery continues to grow, the founders hope to access investment opportunities, form strategic partnerships, and one day train other youth in bakery and business skills.
“This is just the beginning,” says Desire. “We want to empower more youth, open more outlets, and bring quality, affordable baked goods to more communities. With AGRA and YEEFA behind us, we’re baking more than bread—we’re baking a future.”