Rwanda’s commitment to innovation and youth empowerment has taken a significant leap forward with the announcement of six winners in the sixth round of the Imbuto Foundation’s iAccelerator competition.
These projects, all focused on technology, have each been awarded 10 million Rwandan Francs and a six-month training program to enhance their initiatives.
The competition, which ran from April 15 to June 11, 2024, invited young people aged 18 to 30 to create innovations addressing the stigmatization of mental health issues and improving the delivery of reproductive health information and services for young people.
From numerous submissions, the initial 40 projects were shortlisted to 15, and finally, the top six were chosen for the prize.
The six winning projects are Rango Library, Mushuti Wanjye, Nyigisha, Matter Mind, Mindola, and Emotions. Each project demonstrated a strong commitment to leveraging technology for impactful, sustainable solutions that benefit Rwanda’s youth.
Aime Jules Simbi, manager of Rango Library in Mareba Sector, Bugesera District, expressed his enthusiasm for the support.
“Our project aims to assist youth by providing access to over two thousand books on reproductive health. With the funding, we plan to purchase computers to address the shortage of books in Ikinyarwanda. By integrating technology, we can offer resources in Ikinyarwanda and incorporate our colleagues’ technological innovations. This will allow people in our villages to access this information and help us expand our services from Mareba Sector to Ruhuha, Kamabuye, Ngeruka, and Nyarugenge,” he said.
State Minister of Youth and Arts, Sandrine Umutoni, praised the projects for their real-world impact and technological potential.
“We are thrilled to see the level of innovation and creativity our young people have brought to the table,” she said.
The winners will use the funding and training to further develop their projects and bring them to fruition. The iAccelerator competition, established in 2016, highlights Rwanda’s dedication to empowering its youth and fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.
