Youth-led businesses and creative projects in Rwanda have received millions of francs in grants after winning a national competition aimed at helping young entrepreneurs expand their ideas into sustainable ventures.
A total of 100 young people were awarded funding on Tuesday, under the Youth Connekt Awards, Arts Connekt and AGUKA Ideation Entrepreneurship Programme, with prizes ranging from more than 4 million Rwandan francs ($3,000) to 15 million francs per project.
The winners were selected from thousands of applicants competing in sectors including technology, agriculture, manufacturing, creative arts and social enterprises.
The programmes are designed to provide young entrepreneurs with financial support, training and mentorship to help them develop businesses, create jobs and bring innovative ideas to market.
Among the top winners was Nsengiyumva Elie, founder of a basketball training programme for children aged between five and 17, who received 15 million francs to expand his project.
Nsengiyumva said he started the initiative after noticing that talented children from families of workers at the Pfunda tea factory lacked access to equipment and opportunities to develop their skills.
“I started by coaching my five younger siblings because we are eight children in my family. Later, my younger brother told me he did not want his talent to go to waste, and I asked a school to allow me to coach its team for free. We later won a national primary school championship,” he said.
He said the funding would help him build a stronger programme capable of developing players who can represent Rwanda in future competitions.
Another top winner was Rumaga wa Nsekanabo, whose project supports young people to develop artistic talents, particularly in the creative sector. He also received 15 million francs.
Other beneficiaries included Iradukunda Axxicela, whose children’s book business received 12 million francs, and Tuyishime David, whose company manufactures and repairs agricultural equipment, who received 12 million francs. Niyonzima Aaron, who runs greenhouse farming activities, received 10 million francs.
In special categories, Habiyaremye Elina, who makes wooden furniture, and Ibyishaka Ruth, who founded a cooperative supporting women with hearing disabilities through vocational training, each received 5 million francs.
AGUKA received 3,500 applications this year before a selection process that left 100 projects receiving $3,000 each, equivalent to more than 4.3 million francs.
Youth Minister Dr Jean Nepo Abdallah Utumatwishima urged beneficiaries to use the funding effectively and continue improving their projects.
“Your ideas can become reality. Those who received support through AGUKA started with ideas and today they have funding. They should turn those ideas into action,” he said.
AGUKA, launched in May 2023 as a four-year programme, aims to build the capacity of 1,600 young entrepreneurs and support 400 businesses, with half of beneficiaries expected to be young women.
