TecHouse Ltd, a subsidiary of Bank of Kigali (BK) Group, has donated Rwf1m to 16 year-old Isaie Turikumana, a primary school finalist, to support his secondary studies.Turikumana, who hails from Rubona Sector, Rwamagana District, caught the firm’s attention when he made a radio by recycling old damaged parts in an exercise that took him three months. 

 

The teenager attends Groupe Scolaire Rubona.

 

Chief Executive Officer Regis Rugemanshuro said that the support is aimed at encouraging young Rwandans who have unique capacities in technology to move their innovation to another level.

 

"It’s the responsibility of all Rwandans to start looking out for youngsters, who have unique innovation skills in technology and give a hand to them to develop their capacities” said Rugemanshuro.

 

Rugemanshuro said BK TecHouse will follow up with the student to identify ways to further develop his capacity.

 

"Our system at TecHouse allows us to identify and follow-up on innovative learners, to see what assistance they need to thrive in their innovation” Rugemanshuro added.

 

Trephine Mukankusi Rwamagana, District’s Startup Development Officer, said that the district is putting emphasis on school programmes that stimulate innovation among the youth.

 

"This is how we identified Turikumana and the African cycling campion Joseph Areruya and we hope to find more smart and talented young people,” explained Mukankusi.

 

Turikumana’s mother, Olive Mukaniyonzima said that it took Turikumana, a few weeks to make his own radio.

 

"We could see him at home busy ,especially during the weekend ,but I didn’t know he was making a radio. I could just leave him to his devices,” she said.

 

The school’s head teacher, Roseline Izabiliza, described him as a clever boy in class who also serves to motivates his colleagues.

 

"We asked him to bring the radio at school and we all marveled to the thing. Then we notified local authorities of the development” said Izabiliza.