Karitasi Dufatanye, a producer of woven and other locally made products, turned to arts and crafts after losing his job as a primary school teacher during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dufatanye, who studied education at university, previously worked as an English teacher in primary schools. When the pandemic disrupted employment in 2019, he began searching for alternative ways to earn a living.
Face Masks Became His First Business
Dufatanye said he initially started making face masks after learning how to produce them through online tutorials. His first major opportunity came when a customer ordered 1,000 masks at Frw 200 each.
He used the income from the order to explore other business opportunities and eventually returned to weaving, a skill he already possessed. His relatives also joined him, making woven products from home and supplying them to customers.
Izuba Shop Expands the Business
In 2021, Dufatanye opened his own shop, Izuba, where he initially sold his products from premises belonging to other people involved in arts and crafts.
His business expanded in 2026 after he met Numida Technologies, which provided him with a loan that enabled him to establish his own workspace and increase production.
Dufatanye said he first received a loan from the company, successfully repaid it and later obtained another loan to expand his operations.
Creating Jobs for Women
Dufatante currently employs three permanent workers and about 30 casual workers who are hired when the business receives large orders. All of the casual workers are women.
He said his ambition is to significantly expand the business over the next five years, with the goal of employing at least 300 women and exporting his products to international markets.
Numida Supports Small Businesses
Hakizimana Cyprien, an employee at Numida Technologies, said the company provides financial support to entrepreneurs from different backgrounds who want to grow their businesses.
He said Numida offers loans to men, women and young people, including owners of small and medium-sized enterprises, traders and entrepreneurs seeking to expand their businesses.
Numida Technologies began operations in 2016, expanded to Uganda in 2023 and Kenya in 2026 before starting operations in Rwanda. The company provides loans ranging from Frw 100,000 to Frw 12 million, depending on the borrower’s business and stage of development. First-time borrowers can receive up to Frw 2 million.
