IWACU

Name

IWACU

Legal name

IWACU IN AFRICA

Website

https://iwacuinafrica.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IWACU IN AFRICA is a Rwanda-based NGO founded in 2018 that delivers free, hands-on filmmaking and entrepreneurship training to underserved youth and young women in Kigali and Rwamagana District, primarily through the Mastercard Foundation-backed Nyiramubande (ECHO) Project and the BENIMPANO Project.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Training Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery (EDADALAC), Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment (BPAGABAA)

Keywords

• Vocational training programs
• Filmmaking skills training
• Youth empowerment programs
• Women empowerment initiatives
• Creative arts education

Headquarters

HQ city

Kigali

HQ country

Rwanda

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: IWACU operates as a non-governmental organization funded primarily through donations and institutional grants. The organization accepts donations via Google Forms and likely receives funding from partners such as the Mastercard Foundation.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

IWACU IN AFRICA is a non-governmental organization that delivers free, hands-on vocational training in filmmaking and creative arts to underserved youth and young women in Rwanda. Its two main programs — the Nyiramubande (ECHO) Project (in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation) targeting marginalized young women in rural areas, and the BENIMPANO Project targeting youth of both genders — cover script writing, cinematography, directing, editing, acting, makeup, producing, and entrepreneurship to enable labor market integration. The organization is funded through donations and grants and does not charge beneficiaries for its services.

Product overview

IWACU IN AFRICA operates as a non-governmental organization offering vocational training programs focused on empowering youth and women through the creative arts and filmmaking industry. The organization provides two main training programs: the Nyiramubande (ECHO) Project, a partnership with Mastercard Foundation targeting young women in underserved and rural areas with fast-track and extensive practical filmmaking training (covering script writing, cinematography, directing, editing, acting, and entrepreneurship); and the BENIMPANO Project, which provides technical skills training to youth for labor market integration and entrepreneurship in creative industry professions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nyiramubande (ECHO) Project A filmmaking skills training program implemented in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, providing free hands-on technical training to young underserved women in script writing, cinematography, directing, editing, acting, and entrepreneurship to facilitate labor market integration. Targeted at marginalized young women primarily from rural areas in the City of Kigali and Rwamagana District.
• BENIMPANO Project A technical skills training project for youth (both girls and boys) aimed at labor market integration and entrepreneurship, covering practical skills in writing, photography, videography, directing, acting, editing, makeup, and producing, alongside training on SRHR, conflict resolution, gender equality, and entrepreneurship. Delivered free of charge to beneficiaries in Rwanda.

Quantifiable outcome

• 175+ youth trained (100 young women + 75 young filmmakers)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• FilmAid International: Global humanitarian nonprofit using film and media training to empower displaced and marginalized communities. Directly comparable mission and delivery model to IWACU's filmmaking training-for-marginalized-women approach.
• Docubox: East African documentary film training and fellowship program supporting emerging filmmakers. Comparable to IWACU in its mission to build filmmaking capacity among East African youth, particularly women, through hands-on workshops.
• HEVA Fund: Kenya-based fund investing in East Africa's creative economy with grants and capacity-building for creative entrepreneurs. Comparable to IWACU in its focus on creative-industry-led economic empowerment and women/youth inclusion across East Africa.
• Impact Hub Kigali: Kigali-based entrepreneurship hub supporting early-stage social ventures, many led by young women. Comparable to IWACU as a Kigali-headquartered NGO running skills and capacity-building programs for underserved youth and women.
• Kepler (Rwanda Education Program): Rwanda-based higher-education and workforce training program targeting low-income youth, particularly young women. Comparable to IWACU in its Kigali HQ, NGO model, and focus on labor-market integration for underserved Rwandans.
• Inema Arts Center: Rwanda-based creative arts organization providing training and showcasing opportunities for artists. Directly comparable as a Kigali-headquartered nonprofit combining creative skills development with community development mission.

Broad incumbents

• African Women's Development Fund (AWDF): Pan-African fund supporting women's rights organizations across Africa. Comparable to IWACU in its women-empowerment focus and grant-distribution model, though addresses advocacy rather than technical/vocational training.
• Tony Elumelu Foundation: Pan-African entrepreneurship philanthropy training and funding African SMEs across all sectors. Comparable in mission scope (youth/women empowerment via training and seed support) but operates at far larger scale and broader sector mandate.
• Sundance Institute (Film Training Programs): Global nonprofit running filmmaker labs, fellowships, and training for emerging storytellers. Comparable curriculum philosophy (hands-on creative craft development for underserved talent) but at global scope and far larger scale.

Regional players

• Rwanda Women's Network: Rwanda-based NGO promoting women's rights, gender equality, and economic empowerment. Comparable to IWACU as a Kigali-headquartered women-empowerment NGO with overlapping themes of gender equality and rural outreach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iwacu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IWACU