When Arianah Kagorora Atete sat down to write her essay, she did not set out to win a regional competition. She wanted to understand and answer one question: Why East African countries were tackling climate change indivually, despite sharing many common challenges. The essay Atete wrote about this problem earned er the top prize in the 2024 East African Community (EAC) Essay Writing Competition. The fourteen-year-old is currently in Senior Four at Gashora Girls Academy of Science and Technology. The competition organised by the EAC Secretariat gathers Ordinary Level students from across the region to tackle major East African issues, including regional integration, climate change, digital transformation, and innovation. ALSO READ: Rwanda joins regional initiative to integrate climate action into education Beyond the recognition and awards, EAC Secretariat hopes the competition will inspire a generation of young East Africans who are not only aware of the region’s challenges but are already thinking about solutions. For Atete, the prize represents both a personal achievement and an opportunity to represent Rwanda on a regional stage. Her winning essay examined the impact of climate change across East Africa and argued that fragmented, individual country responses are insufficient to address a crisis that crosses borders. “I found that countries in the region are each doing something, but they are doing it separately. If we integrate and partner with each other, we can address some of these challenges far more effectively.” “Regional integration could allow countries to pool funding mechanisms, align climate initiatives, and scale up community-based programmes that support adaptation efforts. That’s something no single country can do as well on its own,” she added. How students compete The competition begins at the national level before progressing to the regional stage. In Rwanda, schools submit essays that are first evaluated by the National Examination and School Inspection Authority (NESA). Each school is allowed to submit three essays, after which the top five entries nationally are forwarded to the regional level to compete with submissions from other EAC member states. Two essays were selected at the national level, and Atete's was the only one chosen to represent the country at the regional stage of the competition. ALSO READ: EAC awards Rwandan essay writers The essay was among those selected and ultimately scored the highest at the regional stage. Asked about the secret behind her success, she said: “I don’t think there was any special secret. The important thing is to do in-depth research about the topic you are given and to work on it with genuine interest. “If you don’t understand the concept well, it becomes very difficult to write about it clearly, and readers can tell,” she said. Speaking to The New Times, Atete’s mother, Zeulia Mukashyaka, said she was proud of her daughter’s achievement, though it did not come as a surprise given her daughter’s long record of strong academic performance. “In primary school she was always the top performer, and when she sat for the national examination, she finished second. Because of that track record, we always had confidence in her abilities. This award is simply another step in the journey she has been on,” she said. Mukashyaka also described her daughter as a passionate learner who expresses herself through writing. “She is a real bookworm, and whenever she wants to understand something, she puts all her effort into it,” she said. After completing O-Level, Atete wanted to explore different interests, which led her to pursue studies in an environment that would expose her to a wide range of subjects and opportunities to learn. “She said if she studied at Gashora Girls Academy of Science and Technology, she could become anything she wanted — a doctor, a pharmacist, or pursue other careers,” recalled her mother. Atete was eventually admitted to the school on a scholarship, where she is currently studying Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science. “As a mother of two daughters, I thank God every day. Atete is the older one, and we believe she will be a good example to her younger sister,” she said.
