Imbuto Foundation on Wednesday, December 8, launched the 4th edition of iAccelerator, a mentorship-driven programme designed to support young entrepreneurs with seed funding, training and skills development so that they can generate original and groundbreaking responses to different social challenges. The launch took place during a youth forum organised by Imbuto Foundation and its partners under the theme: Addressing the Effect of Drug Abuse on the Mental Health and Sexual Reproductive Health of Adolescents and Young Adults. The main challenges of focus include sexual reproductive health, mental health among other issues. According to Geraldine Umutesi, the Deputy Director-General of Imbuto Foundation, during this year’s competition, applicants will be tasked to present innovations that can address two challenges; availing adolescent sexual reproductive health information and services for youth with disabilities, and increasing awareness about mental health issues experienced by adolescents and young adults. “These challenges were identified based on a survey we conducted, asking young people which issues they thought were the most pressing to address,” she said. Established in 2016 by Imbuto Foundation, iAccelerator is supported by the Ministry of Youth and Culture, Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Some young entrepreneurs follow a presentation as Imbuto Foundation launched the 4th edition of iAccelerator in Kigali on Wednesday, December 8. / Craish Bahizi Through a series of pitches, young entrepreneurs present innovations to compete for seed funding of up to $10,000. Speaking to students of the University of Rwanda (UR) College of Medicine and Health Sciences where the launch took place, Umutesi urged them to “believe in their ideas and take steps to implement them.” Since the inception of iAccelerator competition in 2016, over 2500 applications have been received from young people. Of these, 80 received training on how to develop business plans and how to deliver pitch presentations, while some 11 projects composed of 36 young innovators received seed capital and further business training to fine tune their innovations into fully operating startups. Kim Jiwoong Aaron, the Deputy Country Director of KOICA Rwanda, in his remarks during the launch event, lauded the iAccelerator programme for being a partnership that has empowered the youth and improved the lives of many. The same message was echoed by UNFPA Rwanda Representative, Kwabena Asante-Ntiamoha , who made a virtual address, also appreciated the initiative, noting that when the youth are empowered and given the right opportunities, they can become effective agents of change to find solutions to their challenges. Geraldine Umutesi, the Deputy Director-General of Imbuto Foundation addresses the event during the launch of the 4th edition of iAccelerator In a media interview, Kenny Ntwari, a student at UR’s Department of Environmental Sciences, one of the young people planning to take part in this year’s iAccelerator said he is inspired by the solutions that the program has been able to bring to society in the past years. “This year, I want to give my contribution as a youth,” he said. Rachael Mukashema, a medical student at UR, another young person who is interested in applying for this year’s edition spoke of how important issues of mental health and sexual reproductive health currently. “I am interested in participating in iAccelerator edition 4 because the theme of this year is something that is affecting the youth today. Drug abuse, mental health and sexual reproductive health are a burden to Rwandan youth, and to the youth globally,” she said. Reception of applications started on Wednesday, December 8 and will close on Saturday, January 8, next year.
