Ornella: A Founder and Tech Entrepreneur at 19
“I never saw myself initiating a business that does well and employs other people – so this is really a huge achievement for me,” says Ornella, from Rwanda.
At just 19, Ornella has already made a name for herself. As the founder and CEO of Code Empowerment Progress, an initiative helping young Rwandans build tech skills, she’s empowering future generations to thrive in a digital world.
From Interest to Innovation
Driven by commitment to gender equity and a passion for technology, Ornella started Code Empowerment Progress to bridge the gender gap in tech and teach children to code – opening doors to future careers in technology.
“I saw that many young Rwandans were not aware of the opportunities available for them to learn about coding,” Ornella explains.
While her interest in technology sparked her vision, it was the Entrepreneurship course she took in secondary school that equipped her with the skills to transform her ideas into a business.
Developed with technical support from Educate!, Rwanda’s Entrepreneurship course is a mandatory subject during the last three years of secondary before students go on to tertiary education or the workforce. The course reflects Rwanda’s shift toward more practical, hands-on learning. Over the last decade, the government has made great strides to reform the curriculum to better equip students with skills aligned with the modern labor market.
As part of the reform, teachers are trained to use active teaching methods such as Skills Lab, which helps students build skills through project work. Ornella credits this approach with shaping her entrepreneurial mindset.
“The Entrepreneurship subject helps Rwandan students to think boldly and outside the box when creating businesses while also providing practical experience as they work towards getting started.”
– Ornella Ndahiro, CEO of Code Empowerment Progress
Through the Entrepreneurship course, Ornella gained key business skills – from creating business plans to building the confidence to turn ideas into reality. She started small, initially making and selling bracelets while developing the financial literacy to make profits. This early success proved to her that she was capable of creating and running a business of her own, ultimately inspiring her to start Code Empowerment Progress.
Gender Equity and Leadership
Among the transferable skills Ornella acquired was leadership. Taking a lead role in her school’s student business club taught her how to collaborate effectively, inspire her peers, and lead with confidence.
“Being one of the leaders in the business club helped me understand how to conduct myself as a leader and work in a team. It also showed me that women are capable of being in leadership positions in huge companies and taking up big roles.”
Ornella’s journey is part of a larger movement toward gender equity in Rwanda. Vision 2050, the government’s national development framework, emphasizes gender equity as a pillar of economic growth. In line with this commitment, Educate! embeds gender-transformative principles into its education reform approach.
This approach to Gender-Transformative Education is built on three core principles:
Ensure Equitable Access: Identifying barriers to participation – such as lack of confidence or social norms – and ensuring young women are given the support to take up leadership roles.
Build Gender-Sensitive Learning Environments: Supporting both girls and boys in challenging gender preconceptions and reframing business and leadership as opportunities for all.
Surround Youth with a Supportive Community: Engaging teachers, mentors, and caregivers in supporting girls’ aspirations in business and leadership.
This framework helped Ornella not only envision herself as an entrepreneur but also create a program that empowers other girls and young women.
A Bold Future for Code Empowerment Progress
As a way to give back to the community that nurtured her, Code Empowerment Progress is based at Ornella’s former school. Seeing the impact of her work has been especially rewarding. “One of the students in the program, Gladys, initially had no interest in technology. But she’s now discovered a passion for coding and dreams of pursuing a career in computer science,” says Ornella.
Looking ahead, Ornella is eager to inspire more young people – especially girls – to embrace careers in technology.
“I believe the future is bright and beautiful. Our vision for Code Empowerment Progress is bold. I want to see underrepresented youth get into technology and receive the right skills. Eventually, we want to reach national and international scale.”
Ornella’s story demonstrates that when young people are equipped with the right skills and confidence, they don’t just enter the job market – they create it. Her advice to youth is simple: “Be bold, start young, and believe in yourself. You’ve got what it takes and you’ve got the time.”