Startup Story
Anne K Rweyora is the founder of Smart Havens Africa, an impact-driven business launched in 2018 aimed at contributing to Uganda’s housing sector by helping low-income women to become home-owners. As a female civil engineer driven to positively change lives, Anne’s business stands out by offering an innovative, eco-friendly, and empowering pathway to homeownership for women-headed families.
LoA spoke to founder Anne K Rweyora to learn more about her truly inspirational path to becoming an entrepreneur, her vision for the future and the impact she wants to make in the lives of low-income women in Africa.
What does your company do?
High housing costs and limited financial resources have made homeownership a distant dream for many low-income families in Africa. Many pay a large portion of their income in rent, fall into debt traps with high-risk lenders, and remain trapped in poverty. Smart Havens Africa enables women to own climate-smart homes through a novel financing plan, secure land, and built by women using low-cost technology. Our women-built homes generate sustainable returns and support UN SDGs. By supporting us, your organization can amplify its philanthropic impact, enhance its legacy, and create a brighter future for generations.
“Smart Havens Africa enables women to own climate-smart homes through a novel financing plan, secure land, and built by women using low-cost technology.”
What inspired you to start your company?
My mother’s story and her suffering after our home was taken by relatives. When my father died leaving no will, my family were kicked out of our home by relatives. For many years we were practically homeless. My mum fought for her rightful ownership of our home but eventually gave up. It affected our education, health, and feeding. This inspired me to become a female civil engineer, to create housing opportunities for people like my mum. Despite qualifying to study civil-engineering at Uganda’s prestigious Makerere University, I couldn’t afford the fees since my mum was spending most of her hard-earned earnings on rent. To spare my already over-worked mother, I settled for a government-sponsored degree in industrial design. Although I never fulfilled my dream of becoming a female civil engineer, it gave me an intimate passion and desire to help women like my mother, and this led me to found Smart Havens Africa. I want my story and experience to inspire others to follow their passions and drive change in the world.
I am a good public speaker and communicator, which will help bring my story to a wide audience and build partnerships and support. I have the skills and abilities to contribute to Uganda and Africa’s housing sector, especially in helping low-income women who dream of home ownership. I have always been a leader, a school prefect, Head Girl, and at university I was elected Guild Speaker. I like team-working and have more than 10 years’ experience in academic, humanitarian, and development work. My career goal is to create opportunities for women and to change the lives of women living in difficult circumstances and absolute poverty.
What makes your business, service or product special?
Our business stands out by offering an innovative, eco-friendly, and empowering pathway to homeownership for women-headed families, providing affordable housing options, sustainable construction methods, and economic opportunities that promote personal growth and community development.
“Our goal is to enable 1 million women-headed families to become proud owners of climate-smart homes by 2030, unlocking a brighter future for generations to come, while contributing to the UN SDGs.”
Tell us a little about your team
Our team is a diverse and dynamic group of experienced entrepreneurs, sustainable building experts, women's empowerment specialists, tech innovators, and community engagement specialists, united by a shared passion for innovation, sustainability, and women's empowerment.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
Existing options are traditional builders and contractors that are expensive to use; burnt brick that harms the environment; rental homes indefinitely which leave customers with little or no savings; and no clear path to economic and personal growth. Our solution provides a unique pathway to homeownership and the tools to gain financial security for women. With our model one can own a 2BH house at $5K as compared to $45K on the market. While use of traditional burnt brick causes mass deforestation, our blocks require no wood for firing. At least 50 trees are saved on every home built. Unlike traditional builders, for every home built we create 25 jobs for women, each receiving a $2,500 increase in income per year.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
Our goal is to enable 1 million women-headed families to become proud owners of climate-smart homes by 2030, unlocking a brighter future for generations to come, while contributing to the UN SDGs.
“I want my story and experience to inspire others to follow their passions and drive change in the world.”
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
When a woman becomes an owner of an essential asset like land and a home.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Be bold and seek to succeed in the face of opposition. Recognise that some internal biases exist but refuse to let them corrode your sense of self-worth or limit what you think yourself capable of. Bring to the table your unique perspectives and talents and no one can reasonably refuse you a seat. Believe, if you do that the sky is the limit to your success.
Find out more
Email: anne@shafrica.org
Website: http://shafrica.org
Facebook: http://shafricaorg
Twitter: http://shafricaorg
Why LoA loves it….
Many of the most impactful businesses are those where the founder is driven by the need to see real change happen in people’s lives. For Anne K Rweyora, founder of Smart Havens Africa, her personal motivation and drive comes from personal experience and the need to see low-income women realize their home-ownership dreams. Anne is making a profound difference to the future economic aspirations of hard-working women in her country, inspiring the world by example and showing that with a big vision and powerful drive, it’s possible to change lives for the better. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa