Imbuto Foundation rewards four winners of the iAccelerator challenge

Four young innovators won a grand prize of 10,000 USD each after pitching innovative ideas that promote sexual reproductive health and mental health. The pitch contest, which took place on Friday 13 was the final stage of the iAccelerator challenge phase 4, and saw winners walk away with a grant to help develop their ideas into workable products. This year’s iAccelerator competition was held under the theme “Addressing Socio-Cultural Barriers Affecting Mental Health and Sexual Reproductive Health.” The competition is implemented through collaboration between the Imbuto Foundation, the Ministry of Youth and Culture, KOICA and UNFPA. It aims to explore new and engaging ways to respond and prevent teenage pregnancies, while promoting social entrepreneurship among young people aged between 18-30 years old. 490 applicants took part in the competition, among which, 40 were selected for pitching. 10 projects were then selected for the final stage, from which 4 emerged winners. The best projects were chosen after a pitching session that gave five minutes to each of the innovators, to showcase how they plan to tackle mental health and sexual reproductive health. Geraldine Umutesi, Deputy Director General of the Imbuto Foundation said that, “young people, as Her Excellency the First Lady of Rwanda always reminds you, you have a country that loves you. We, as the Imbuto foundation workers and members, urge you to take care of yourself again and again. Always keep in mind that you have a country that loves and cares for you, and the rest is up to you.” Noella Bigirimana, the Deputy Director General at Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) thanked everyone who participated in the youth forum and the award ceremony for the winners in iAccelerator phase4, emphasising the efforts of the youth in finding solutions to the problems facing society. Bigrimana encouraged young people to dare and dream, “the Ministry of Health is ready and committed to help the youth in every possible way to continue to innovate and provide solutions to the challenges facing mental health and reproductive health.” Winners speak out Gentil Rafiki and Egide Tumukunde came in first position. Their project, ‘Bohoka application’ was created with the purpose of addressing challenges of mental health, with emphasis on the history of Rwanda. “Young people are growing up with mental health illnesses, and are finding it hard to get help. So, we were inspired to come up with this idea,” the innovators said. In second position were Jerome Nshimiyimana, Diane Ishimwe and Claude N. Hirwa, whose project JoCare, was initiated to allow young people, including those with disabilities, to discuss sexual reproductive health information through educational tools. The third, ‘Tele -mental health,’ will be giving access to affordable mental health education and services. The project was created by Amanda Akaliza and Michael Tesfay. According to Akaliza, online therapy is more effective than in-person therapy. It can easily be accessed and it is more private, she said. “Data on mental health in Rwanda is still limited. Through tele mental health, it will be easy to access data on mental health statutes.” Clarissa Mutimukeye came in fourth position with her ‘Best-Friend Podcasted Book’ project, a storyboard book that will provide reliable information on sexual and reproductive health and rights.

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Imbuto Foundation rewards four winners of the iAccelerator challenge