Remarkable Rwandan Refugee Becomes International Entrepreneur Helping Girls Feel Comfortable in Their Skin: Meet Francoise Mbabazi
I am of Rwandan origin, but I was born and raised in Uganda. There my family and thousands of other Rwandans lived as refugees, shunned, and ostracized. To obtain my education, I overcame major cultural and economic barriers. After the genocide, my family returned to Rwanda in 1996. Ultimately, in 2001, I immigrated to the United States.
As a result of these experiences, I have a deep empathy and understanding for immigrant and refugee populations and for those who have been stigmatized for whatever reason. Growing up in Africa gave me first-hand knowledge of what it is like to be poor, disenfranchised, and vulnerable. As I matured, this knowledge grew into a deep understanding of the need to prioritize gender equity and diminish barriers that disproportionately affect women and girls. Now, as a single mother to a beautiful 9-year-old girl, leading an organization, Myskin Global , that is working to disrupt the practice of skin bleaching, instilling self-love, and self-admiration through educational curriculum, normalizing the conversation, building local, national, and global partnerships of women mentors for the BIPOC youth, I know now fully that when women thrive, families thrive.
My work life began in 1996 when my family and I returned from Uganda to Kigali, Rwanda. I needed to find a way to earn money so I could pursue my dream of getting a college education. I started working at 14 years of age. One day an American came into my aunt's small shop looking for a phone he could use. He was shocked to discover that I could speak English. He offered me a job in his business as an administrative assistant. He was operating an import/export business at the airport, supplying food and other necessities to the U.N. agencies and other NGOs working in the area. After a few months, they promoted me to the position of marketing director. When their assignment in Rwanda ended, they closed shop and left.
I learned the business and decided to start my import/export service at 14. I founded a business called the International Clearing and Forwarding Agency (ICFA). IFCA provided complete import/export services including purchase contracts, shipping, warehousing, and delivery and scheduling of goods. Ultimately, I added three branch offices in other parts of the country.
While I was working in the import/export business, one of my friends passed my name on to a New York Times reporter, as someone who might help him with translation. This led to my working with 纽约时报 and ABC News . I was also asked to collect and translate stories from genocide survivors and perpetrators. I conducted interviews in Rwandan prisons, refugee centers, and people’s homes. I learned so much about the tragic events that had happened in Rwanda during my family's absence.
Still desiring to pursue my education, I took advantage of an opportunity to sell my business. With the money earned from the sale of my business and my work as an interpreter, I was finally able to finance my college education at U.S.I.U. ( United States International University - Africa ) in Nairobi, Kenya.
During college, I had a one-year internship in Nairobi with?New Life Home for Orphaned and Abandoned HIV-Positive Children . My internship involved providing basic care and services to the children, facilitating adoption processes, and participating in the evaluation of adoption options for the children. I also raised $20,000 to support the program.
Upon graduation, I took a job as a Credit Controller at?Kigali Institute of Science and Technology? in Kigali, Rwanda, where I collected tuition debt from students. In 2001, I was able to come to America to continue my studies. I pursued a master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with an Emphasis in Gender Studies at 美国亚利桑那州立大学 . I did some part-time modeling and finally accomplished my education dream.
I have held various leadership positions since then with Colorado nonprofit organizations. I have spent many years working to build diverse and strategic network connections with individuals, organizations, and policymakers to advance human rights for women and girls, economic empowerment programs, building sustainable relationships with the disfranchised communities, and advocating for progressive policy changes.
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I am here to tell you: you too can change the world. With the right mindset, self-determination, and commitment to making the world a better place, Yes You Can! You are equipped and you and only you have every tool in your toolbox needed to make your dream come true!
How do you embody inclusive leadership?
We have heard many in our lives say, “It’s impossible. You will never make it, or you are not worthy.” These messages are not true. I was born in a poor environment that rendered a fixed mentality to those willing to buy into it: that you are powerless because you have fewer resources to tap into. But my limitations ignited fear in me. Poverty never defined me. I knew then as I know now, that wasn’t my life. The way things were then was never the way things would be.
My mission in life wasn’t about making money. It was about making a difference in the world for that little aspiring girl with a thirst for education and a better life for others, to ensure no other girl would have to go through what I went through to accomplish their dreams. I am one out of ten whom 1st graduated from college and graduate school in my family because I simply couldn’t stop without accomplishing my God-given dream.
Today, I am the Co-Founder and President of?My Skin Global . I’m an international speaker, most recently on International Women's Day in Paris, France at The World Women Forum 2023 (A Star-Icon Conference). I am a leader in the community, a human rights activist, and a mother to an incredibly gifted and talented girl. I embody female leadership by leading by example. I can be vulnerable and share my story and be empathetic and hope it changes someone else’s journey positively.
How could GlobalMindED further your efforts?
Educational and economic empowerment of women and girls is not optional for modern society. Every girl regardless of the color of their skin, class, and gender representation should grow up believing they too deserve to accomplish their dreams. GlobalMindED can further my vision by encouraging women and girls to believe in their dreams and to love themselves in the skin they are in. The self-esteem that comes from achieving educational and career goals with GlobalMindED increases the self-love and self-worth of everyone involved.
I wish we can be friends