Youth show how NSYEAS can create jobs – The journey of Uwineza Shakira in adding value to chili
As Rwanda rolls out the National Strategy for Youth Employment in Agri-Food Systems (NSYEAS) a strategy designed to create jobs and give young people space to contribute to an agriculture-driven economy, there is youth in Runda Sector, Kamonyi District, who are already demonstrating how this strategy can turn into tangible results
Shakira Uwineza, a young woman living in Runda, has become one of the youth adding value to chili, creating jobs and helping farmers in her community access a stable market.
Shakira says she grew up with dreams of becoming an entrepreneur, though she did not know exactly what she wanted to do. She tried different ventures including making juice before observing that chili was a highly demanded product both in Rwanda and globally. She decided to build her business around it.
She says: “I grew up like any other child with dreams of becoming an entrepreneur but without knowing exactly what I would do. As I grew older, I tried different things, including making juice, but I eventually found myself in chili because I saw it was a product in high demand. I observed closely and saw its fast-moving market both locally and internationally, so I chose it.”
In her small processing workshop located in Runda, Shakira produces three types of chili sauce: Neza Chili, Neza Chili Oil and Neza Hits.
She explains that her unique value lies in making oil-free chili sauce.
She said: “People are used to chili that contains oil. I thought of those who are advised not to consume oil but still love chili, so I decided to make an oil-free product that anyone can enjoy.”
She works with chili farmers from the Eastern Province, especially in Kayonza and Bugesera districts, who supply her with raw materials.
“We work with different farmers from Bugesera and Kayonza who grow for us and deliver the produce which we then purchase.”
Like many who start agribusiness, Shakira faced challenges especially lack of capital and equipment. She started in her home kitchen, using basic household tools.
She said: “Starting wasn’t easy. I began working from home with less than Rwf 500,000. I would produce small batches and give them to family and friends to taste and give feedback. When they liked it, I started investing the little money I had, and slowly grew from there.”
In line with NSYEAS’ objective of creating jobs through value addition in agriculture, Shakira soon reached a point where she could no longer work alone. She now employs eight permanent workers’ young men and women from her community and four temporary workers, depending on market demand.
She said: “You cannot talk about value addition in agriculture and work alone. I now work with youth who help in sorting, processing, and packaging the chili. When we receive large orders, additional helpers join us, and together we can be up to 18 people.”
She believes that today’s youth should not only look for jobs but also create employment opportunities.
Regarding revenue, Shakira says her business earns between Rwf 4 million and Rwf 6 million per month.
Her biggest market is in Kigali from hotels and restaurants to retail shops but she also supplies customers in Kamonyi, Rubavu, Musanze, and Muhanga districts.
Shakira says she chose to build a brand grounded in quality rather than chasing quick profits. She collaborates with food inspection authorities, maintains strict hygiene, carefully measures ingredients, and uses certified packaging materials. She graduated from the “Zamukana Ubuziranenge” program and now holds all the required quality certifications.
She dreams of building a large, internationally compliant factory.
“I want to build a big factory that meets high standards and distributes products across the world.”
Her company, Shaky Ltd, can produce 800 kilograms of chili per week, enabling them to meet any order they receive.
While she acknowledges she has not yet reached where she wants to be, Shakira sees real progress.
“My dream was to create an agricultural product that supports my family and provides jobs for others. Now I can see the beginning of that dream becoming reality.”
For youth who constantly complain about unemployment, Shakira notes that the challenge is not always the lack of jobs but sometimes fear of starting small and limited access to accurate information.
“Many young people rely on misinformation or promises that don’t materialize. When you tell someone there are many business opportunities, they look at you like you say that because you have succeeded. But the opportunities are there you can start with very little and grow. People call it luck, but when you try and God blesses your effort, it works.”
She believes the future of youth in agriculture depends on sustained political commitment and support from partners especially in innovation and value addition.
Throughout her two-year journey, she has met various supporters and partners who helped her grow, including AGRA, which supported her with training and participation in expos; RYAF, which connected her to opportunities; the YouthConnekt Awards, where she won Rwf 5 million; and the Imali Agribusiness Challenge, where she won Rwf 10 million.
“I met partners who supported me, like AGRA which helped me with training and expanding my business, as well as participation in exhibitions and trade fairs. RYAF has always been close, linking me to opportunities. I also won Rwf 5 million in YouthConnekt and Rwf 10 million in the Imali Agribusiness Challenge. All these helped me reach where I am today.”
Shakira says that although she did not study agriculture, it hasn’t stopped her from excelling in value addition.
“I studied city all customs and tax operation not agriculture but I have attended various training sessions and continue to do so. Sometimes you study something and later find there are no opportunities in it, so you explore other options. That’s what I did, and it has paid off.”
As NSYEAS outlines billions of francs required for large national projects to create jobs and innovation in agricultural value chains, Uwineza Shakira’s journey from Runda shows that the strategy cannot be fulfilled by policy documents alone, it requires real people who take initiative.
In a broader sense, her story reinforces NSYEAS’ vision that the future of agriculture in Rwanda will be built by resilient, innovative young men and women who turn the harvests from their villages into products for national and global markets.
Oil-free, youth-driven, job-creating: Shakira’s chili brand is redefining agribusiness in Kamonyi
Chili with a mission: Creating jobs, supporting farmers, and inspiring Rwanda’s youth
Behind every bottle of Neza Chili is a young woman proving that NSYEAS can work
