Head office
Rwanda
Rubavu, Rwanda
Why Safari Strives
Exists
Safari Strives fosters economic independence in Rwanda through sustainable enterprises, job creation, and zero-interest microloans for women.
Case study
World Bank President Ajay Banga has called jobs one of the surest paths out of poverty. In Rwanda, many people have not waited for jobs to appear. They have built their own through shops, tailoring, poultry, local products, and businesses carried through unstable conditions.
But effort alone does not build a scalable business. Rwanda's business landscape remains 87% informal, showing how many enterprises still lack the growth basics: systems, pricing, tools, visibility, buyer access, and leadership discipline.
The deeper issue is concentration. In 2024, 60.7% of Rwanda's formal businesses were in Kigali, compared with 9.7% in the Western Province, where Rubavu sits. The strongest hubs, accelerators, mentors, buyers, and funding pipelines still sit too close to main cities. Safari Strives builds the missing infrastructure in Rubavu, helping founders produce better, sell better, grow revenue, and make their value visible.
Practitioner-Led
Safari Strives builds the conditions around operating entrepreneurs, businesses that already have effort, demand, and local traction, and helps them become organized, visible, and ready for growth. We run our own enterprise on the same street we serve, managing cash flow, inventory, production, and costs for three years. That is what tells us which conditions actually matter.
Corporate Headquarters
United States
Crestwood, Illinois
Our Team
Meet the dedicated individuals who make Safari Strives' mission possible. Our team combines local expertise with global vision to create sustainable change in communities.
Elie Imani
Executive Director & Co-Founder
Elie Imani
Executive Director & Co-Founder
Leads Safari Strives strategy and strengthens the model through graduate research in African Studies at Yale University.
Martin Sheehan
Quality Director
Martin Sheehan
Quality Director
Oversees program quality, standards, and the consistency of Safari Strives' field operations.
Rafael Peres
Economic Strategy & Co-founder
Rafael Peres
Economic Strategy & Co-founder
Shapes economic strategy and the long-term financial model behind Safari Strives' enterprises.
Manshimwe Josue
Operations Director
Manshimwe Josue
Operations Director
Manages day-to-day operations on the ground and coordinates the Rwanda team's delivery.
Carolina Alfaro
Quality Director
Carolina Alfaro
Quality Director
Supports quality assurance across programs, partnerships, and community-facing work.
Ashraf Kamwithi
Brand & Strategy Director
Ashraf Kamwithi
Brand & Strategy Director
Leads brand development and strategic communications for Safari Strives' ventures and programs.
Hakizimana Joel
Advisor
Hakizimana Joel
Advisor
Provides local advisory support and community insight for Safari Strives' Rwanda operations.
Emmanuel Agyekum
Tech Integration Director
Emmanuel Agyekum
Tech Integration Director
Drives technology integration and systems that help Safari Strives scale its impact reliably.
Partners
Institutions that believe in the work.
Safari Strives is supported by local institutions, academic partners, and international collaborators who share our conviction that communities deserve reliable pathways to economic independence.
Become a partner
We welcome partners with expertise, networks, market access, and growth capital to help us reach more founders and expand the Green Enterprise Lab in Rubavu.
Partner with Safari Strives