| Peace brings about more economic benefit to society than does war or conflict (Killelea, 2014). The relationship between economic prosperity in a post-genocide culture and its contributions to the daily practices of Rwanda's business women was the focus of this study. The goal of this study was to understand the relationship of a state of post-genocide peace to the work and professional lives of 20 women in Rwanda's capital city, Kigali. Specifically, the research question driving this study is "What are the experiences and perspectives of women doing business in a post-genocide marketplace?";In order to answer this question, 20 Rwandan women were interviewed. Their responses included definitions of business, descriptions of their daily work practices, successes, challenges, and accomplishments, as they related to post-genocide culture. The interviews embraced a post-colonial foundation that related to current conditions in Rwanda.;Through this qualitative research, seven themes emerged: the meaning of business; optimism, passion, and fulfillment; the influence of President Paul Kagame; Rwandan government and national pride; safety and freedom from physical harm; unity, collaboration, and helping others; and empowerment in action. These seven themes surround the women in their personal, daily lives and in the context of a larger scale cultural climate. These themes clearly demonstrated that Rwanda's women are creatively involved in a post-colonial, post-genocide Rwanda. |
