When Jackson Sebahungu first began making yogurt during his college days in Kinigi, Musanze District, it was a humble attempt to build something of his own. He had little in the way of resources, but a strong sense of purpose—and a deep belief that dairy could change his future.
Then a friend shared a link about a youth agribusiness program. Curious, Jackson applied.
“I learned about R-YES through a friend who shared a link. I saw it as an opportunity to grow my business, so I applied—and I was selected.” Jackson says.
That decision became a turning point. Through the Rural Youth Employment Support (R-YES) project—implemented by Kilimo Trust—Jackson gained practical training in business development, marketing, and how to build the support systems a small enterprise needs to grow.
“R-YES was a game changer for me. I gained skills in marketing and learned how to access the support I needed to get the right supplies.” He adds.
After completing his studies, Jackson returned to Musanze and put his training into action—reviving his business, expanding operations, hiring staff, and strengthening ties with local milk suppliers. Today, his company produces yogurt and fermented milk with the help of a growing team.
The business now creates jobs for youth, supports cooperatives, and reinvests in community wellbeing—from supplier training to health insurance.
“Life has changed in many ways since R-YES became a partner in my journey. We now have the means to pay for our health insurance, we've created jobs for youth, supported local cooperatives, and trained the people we work with to deliver better-quality products.” Jackson says
But his ambitions don’t end here. He dreams of building a state-of-the-art dairy facility—one that processes a wider range of products, empowers more young people, and strengthens Rwanda’s local food systems.
From a student side hustle to a community-driven enterprise, Jackson’s journey is proof that when youth are equipped and believed in, they do more than survive. They lead.