When you meet Binty Walda, her confidence and calm smile immediately reveal the determination behind her success story. As the Founder of Binty Skincare, a Rwandan Company focusing on Aloe Vera based skincare and wellness items, Binty is a young entrepreneur who thinks nature has this real kind of influence, along with the whole perseverance part too.“Aloe Vera is a miraculous plant,” she says with a smile. “That’s why all our soaps have Aloe Vera in them. It has so many natural benefits for the skin.”
Her company currently produces different types of natural soaps made from plants like cucumber, turmeric, and activated charcoal, all sharing one main ingredient Aloe Vera.
But the journey to build Binty Skincare was not as smooth as her products.
After finishing high school, Binty got her first job. One day, her boss told the team something that would change her life forever:
“He told us that we should have something of our own, to make our own things,” she recalls. “That made me think everyone uses soap every morning. So why not make soap that is natural and different from what’s already on the market?”
With that idea, Binty decided to create skincare products that are natural, affordable, and safe for everyone.
Turning an idea into reality required skills. So Binty left Rwanda for Kampala, Uganda, where she received training on how to make different products from natural ingredients.
“I started putting what I learned into practice,” she says. “At first, I failed many times. But I didn’t give up. Step by step, I finally came up with a very good product.”
Her persistence paid off. Today, her customers praise her soaps for their quality and uniqueness. “They told me they want to support me so that this business can grow and that gave me hope,” she adds.
Binty’s business journey took a big leap when she joined the YouthConnekt competition with her project.
“I thank the Government of Rwanda for introducing the YouthConnekt competitions,” she says proudly. “When I participated, I was among the four winners at the national level. They awarded me several millions, which I invested in my project.”
That funding helped her expand production, buy materials, and work with local Aloe Vera farmers, who supply her with fresh plants for processing.
Today, Binty Skincare employs four people three permanent staff and one temporary worker and supplies products to supermarkets.
However, challenges still exist.
“Some materials like soap molds and cutting machines come from China,” she explains. “Packaging is also a big challenge. But we hope that in the next five years, we’ll have our own machines to produce packaging locally.”
Despite the challenges, Binty has a big vision:
“Right now, we are not yet a big company,” she says, “but in the next five years, we aim to have a factory much bigger than the one we have now.”
Binty’s business has transformed not only her life but also the lives of others.
“Through this business, I can pay my university tuition because I’m studying skincare,” she says. “I also provide jobs for other young people and contribute to national taxes.”
To young people who want to start their own businesses, her message is powerful:
“When you start, don’t expect it to be big right away. Start small, and when you fail, don’t quit just learn and move forward. Even if you mess up today , tomorrow you can still succeed”.
From her humble start, to turning into a role model for youth entrepreneurship, Binty Walda shows real grit, imagination, and trust in what natural products can do.
Her aim is quite clear grow Binty Skincare into one of Rwanda’s top natural cosmetics brands, and in doing so, she’s proving that with steady effort and persistence, small notions can grow into those beautiful, real-life outcomes.
Jean Bernard MUKUNDENTE/RYAF Communication and Public Relations
Email:b.mukundente@ryaf.rw/ryafcommunication@gmail.com