menes-ux/Unihustle-rwanda-core

A dual-sided freelance marketplace connecting verified university students with local businesses in Rwanda. # UniHustle Rwanda **A dual-interface freelance marketplace connecting ALU students with Kigali businesses.** BSc. Software Engineering — Foundations Project | African Leadership University | January 2026 Team Riptide — Group 4 --- ## Live Demo | Resource | Link | |---|---| | Live Application | unihustle-rwanda-core-ll86.… | | Demo Video | youtube.com | | GitHub Repository | github.com | --- ## Table of Contents - Overview - The Problem - Our Solution - Features - System Architecture - Tech Stack - Database Schema - AI Assistance - Getting Started - Environment Variables - Project Structure - API Reference - Testing - Team - Acknowledgements --- ## Overview UniHustle Rwanda is a full-stack web platform built to solve a specific, measurable problem: university students in Rwanda — particularly at ALU — have no dedicated, trusted channel to find flexible freelance work, and local businesses have no affordable way to access verified student talent. The platform operates as a two-sided marketplace. Students create service listings (gigs), and businesses browse, book, and manage orders through separate role-based dashboards. Every account is tied to a verified institutional email, which is what distinguishes UniHustle from global platforms like Fiverr where anyone can register. --- ## The Problem Over 70% of Rwandan youth face difficulty entering the labor market after graduation (World Bank, 2022). Students specifically struggle with: - No centralized platform for short-term, flexible work that fits academic schedules - Dependence on informal networks and word-of-mouth for job opportunities - Inability to compete on global platforms (Fiverr, Upwork) due to high competition, complex onboarding, and service fees of 10–20% - No institutional verification, which reduces trust from employers On the employer side, small and medium businesses in Kigali face: - High cost o …