Kurumbuka Leadership Solutions
Sharon Mbabazi: Social Entrepreneur (Rwanda)
Abundant Leadership Institute / ALI Cohorts 6 & 7
Help make it possible for Sharon Mbabazi to participate in the Abundant Leadership Institute's sixth cohort.
About Sharon Mbabazi: Social Entrepreneur (Rwanda)
Sharon Mbabazi grew up in a loving Christian home. Her father passed away when she was young, but her mother worked hard to provide for Sharon and her three siblings while staying actively involved at church. Her mom made sure her children knew that they were loved and that life was about serving others. By helping her mom at church, Sharon discovered the joy of service and a passion for working with children.
When Sharon moved to Kampala to begin her undergraduate degree, she wanted to find a way to keep serving children. She discussed her ideas with a Ugandan classmate who took her to his village where they ran the first 'Create a Smile' event for 83 children. Sharon was so encouraged by the event that she decided to start a free weekly camp for kids in the neighbourhood where she was living. Each Saturday, the kids played games and learned about different topics such as hygiene, discipline, etc.
By 2018, Sharon's vision for serving children in Kampala led her to initiate outreaches for children living on the street. She quickly recognized that girls in the slums of Kampala did not have access to sanitary pads. Sharon set an initial goal of providing 50 pads to girls on the street but God blessed her work and she ended up collecting 250 pads. Through this effort Sharon connected with a local NGO in Uganda and an NGO in Sweden that decided to support their efforts.
After graduation, Sharon returned to Rwanda. She wanted to continue to empower young girls so she volunteered with Saye Company: a social enterprise that empowers teenagers in order to prevent teenage pregnancies and fight menstrual stigma. In July Sharon was hired as a Program Coordinator for Saye Company.
In her current position, Sharon helps deliver training to young people ages 13 to 21. She has maintained her relationship with the Swedish NGO which now partners with Saye Company. 20% of Rwandan girls start childbearing before the age of 19. Sharon says that one of the primary causes of teenage pregnancies is the lack of correct information about reproductive health, specifically among low-income families. Sharon's personal vision is to help make education accessible to every child in Africa, so her work with Saye Company aligns with her long-term passion.
As a life-long learner, Sharon is always looking for opportunities to increase her capacity. She learned about ALI after being mentored by a member of ALI's fifth cohort, Desire Sengoga. Sharon ultimately decided to apply because she knew the program would provide her with new skills and meaningful relationships. What she gains from the program will not only impact her work today, but will also equip her to increase her impact in the future.
Thank you for generously investing in Sharon's leadership journey!
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If you are located in the USA, access our US giving form here, https://www.kurumbuka.org/us-donate, and write 'Sharon' in the 'Leave a comment' field.