The Ministry of Youth and ICT in partnership with One UN awarded 30 young innovators from various field in 2015.

Ninety young innovators in the fields of ICT, Agriculture, Community tourism, TVET, fashion design among others were given a two-day boot camp from 19-20 December 2015 learning project management skills and how to promote their innovations.

All 90 young innovators competed to select top 30 to be awarded. The winner secured three millions Rwandan Francs, the first runner up was given two millions Rwandan francs, and the second runner up one million Rwanda francs, while the rest 27 young innovators have got 500,000 Rwandan Francs each one.

Their projects are expected to empower the youths and promote job creation, inspire fellows to be creative and innovative, and allow them to engage in transformation processes.

Aimable Sibomana, 29, who has speech and hearing impairment is the one who scooped the first prize. Nyanza Workforce cooperative that he was representing transforms scraps into smart and environmentally-friendly useful materials including charcoal stoves, metallic suitcases and doors.

“I am going to develop my project and help provide jobs to the young people, and other people in the community where I am working,” Said Sibomana via sign language interpreted by his colleague.

Speaking at the awarding ceremony, the UN resident coordinator, Lamin M. Manneh assured that One UN will continue to work with various institutions to create platforms for young people to deal with unemployment related issues.

Local government Minister, Francis Kaboneka, who was also part of the ceremony, urged the youth to work hard to build Rwanda.