In Musanze town, the scent of freshly baked bread wafts through the air. It’s not just the smell of breakfast it’s the aroma of possibility. Inside a small but busy bakery, three young Rwandans are kneading more than dough. They’re building dreams, creating jobs, and rewriting the story of youth empowerment in rural Rwanda.
This is the story of DAM Bakery, a youth-led business that’s fast becoming a local favorite and a national model for what young people can achieve when given the right tools and support.
Founded by Desire, Aziz, and Mordecai whose first initials make up the bakery’s name DAM Bakery opened its doors in October 2024. The trio, originally from Gatsibo District in Eastern Rwanda, relocated to Musanze after undergoing entrepreneurship training through the Youth Engagement for the Future of Food and Agriculture (YEEFA) project.
“We were just university students with an idea,” says Isingizwe Mukiza Desire, a student at the University of Rwanda Nyagatare Campus and DAM Bakery’s managing director. “But Akazi Kanoze Access helped us turn that idea into a business. They taught us to believe in ourselves.”
YEEFA, funded by AGRA and the Mastercard Foundation, aims to unlock employment opportunities for youth in Rwanda’s agri-food systems. It equips participants with not just business knowledge but confidence something the DAM team credits for their success.
What started as a classroom business plan has blossomed into a thriving bakery offering bread, cakes, doughnuts, chapattis, and event cake decoration services. In just a few months, DAM Bakery has:
– Sold more than 1,000 baked products
– Built a loyal customer base via social media and community outreach
– Partnered with local schools and organizations for supply deals
– Showcased their products at youth entrepreneurship exhibitions
“We chose Musanze because it has a vibrant economy and a strong market,” explains Desire. “It was a leap of faith but it’s paying off.”
And the impact goes beyond profits. DAM Bakery is now employing other local youth, providing short-term jobs and mentorship, and proving that entrepreneurship can be a tool for community transformation.
The trio attributes their rapid growth to the support systems around them. Through YEEFA, they received mentorship and technical training not only in business management but also in flour processing thanks to partners like APEFE Rwanda.
This combination of soft and hard skills has allowed them to consistently improve product quality and meet growing demand.
“YEEFA gave us more than training,” says Desire. “It gave us a future.”
But like many startups, DAM Bakery still faces challenges. Limited access to modern baking equipment and a lack of a permanent workspace remain obstacles. Yet the team remains undeterred.
“Our space is small, and we mix dough by hand,” Desire says with a smile. “But our vision is huge. We want to become one of Rwanda’s most recognized bakery brands.”
DAM Bakery is just one of many youth-led ventures to emerge from the YEEFA initiative, which has already reached over 300,000 Rwandan youth 70% of them young women. With each new business, the landscape of rural employment is changing.
Youth are no longer waiting for opportunities they’re creating them.
“Stories like DAM Bakery prove that Rwandan youth are capable of driving real change,” says a representative from Akazi Kanoze Access. “They are transforming their communities, one loaf at a time.”
Looking ahead, the founders of DAM Bakery plan to expand operations, invest in better equipment, and eventually mentor other aspiring entrepreneurs. For them, the journey is just beginning.
“We want to train other young people, open more branches, and make affordable baked goods available across Rwanda,” says Desire. “We’re not just baking bread we’re baking hope.”
