We develop hospitality professionals, strengthen teams, and elevate service standards. Inside working hotels and restaurants.

A four-month Living Laboratory · Select · Train · Place · Retain

4months

3 months training + 1 month internship

30students

per cohort, by design

Hands-on

workplace-based learning

Apply for the cohort starting 31 August 2026 Support a Student

The Problem

Great hospitality is built through real experience.

Rwanda's hospitality sector already supports 402K+ jobs and welcomed 1.49M visitors last year, projected to reach 2.2M by 2028 (RDB, 2025). We are part of building the workforce that will sustain it. We have identified four gaps to fill:

The Skills Gap

Technical skills alone aren't enough to perform under real pressure; human skills matter just as much. A Mastercard Foundation study across seven African countries, including Rwanda, found work ethic and integrity to be critical, yet consistently lacking at every career stage.

The Readiness Gap

Graduates arrive qualified on paper but untested on the floor. A Mastercard Foundation study found that 87% of young hospitality workers across Africa, including Rwanda, had to be trained on the job, a sign that the sector needs more hands-on exposure beyond the classroom.

The Retention Gap

Underprepared staff leave early, driving turnover and repeated hiring cycles. A 2022 industry assessment found staff mobility to be a top reason Rwandan employers hesitate to invest in training.

The Quality Gap

High student ratios and limited real-world exposure reduce depth, consistency, and service quality.

Sources: Mastercard Foundation Youth Think Tank (2018); Private Sector Federation Rwanda Skills Assessment (2022); World Bank Rwanda Economic Update (2024); RDB (2025).

The Forge Solution

The Living Laboratory Model

The only hospitality training in Rwanda where students learn inside live, operating establishments including Tea House Boutique Hotel & Restaurant and partner venues. One programme, four pillars, in sequence. This is where real readiness is built.

Select

Intake

Structured intake assessment. 30 students per cohort, by design. Quality over volume.

Train

4 months

Most of the training happens on the floor serving real guests, supported by structured learning and mapped to a skill-badge framework.

Place

Employment

We connect our job-ready graduates with employers looking to hire.

Retain

Ongoing

Monthly coaching, refresher training, and performance management. Forge supports after placement.

Our Graduates

Documented. Assessed. Ready.

— Forge Student Pledge

"I commit to serve with excellence, integrity, and respect. I take pride in my work and the experience I create for others. I will continue to learn, grow, and improve my skills. Through my work, I will contribute to strong businesses, thriving communities, and Rwanda's progress."

A Forge graduate in a cream and gold front-office uniform at a boutique hotel reception desk

Competency Report

A documented assessment comparing entry and graduation performance, referenced to industry standards. Employers see exactly what improved, and by how much.

Skill Badges

Role-specific badges earned through demonstrated performance in a live environment. Proof of what they can do — not a certificate of attendance.

Conduct Assessment

An assessment of the qualities that determine how a person shows up every day, with every guest, throughout their career.

The Graduate Profile

All three assessments compiled into a single HR-ready document — everything an employer needs to make a confident hiring decision.

Admissions Open

The first cohort starts 31 August 2026.

Thirty places, by design. Complete the application form to register your interest and begin the intake assessment.

Start your application

Questions? Email forgedtoexcel@gmail.com or call +250 794 370 706.