Tigo Rwanda, in partnership with
non-profit organization Reach for Change, have today announced the three
winners of the 2017 Tigo Digital Changemakers competition. The winners of the
competition are Origene Igiraneza, Alain Patrick Irere Hirwa and Bobson Rugambwa.
Each winner will receive Rwf 8.2 million.
The three Tigo Digital
Changemakers competition winners, chosen out of a field of 130 applicants, were
selected following a rigorous vetting process that involved Tigo, its partner
Reach for Change, and external experts.
The three winners were announced
during the closing ceremony of the 2017 Tigo Digital Changemakers competition
on Tuesday 5 December at KLab, Kigali.
Reacting to the result of the
competition, new Digital Changemaker, Bobson Rugambwa of MVend said,
“I am excited to have made it
this far and won the competition. This gives us the opportunity to do more. We
will be using the money to fund a recruitment drive to take our product to more
people. Thank you Tigo. Thank you Reach for Change”
In her remarks Africa
Communications Manager, Reach for Change, Tadzie Madzima-Bosha, noted:
“In this year’s competition, we
were looking for 3 social entrepreneurs with extraordinary projects that use
digital tools and technology to create or grow their impact. We are excited
about these new Changemakers and we look forward to working with them to
closely see them achieve more social impact and growth in their organizations
by combining their passion, with technology and advice from Tigo and coaching
from the Reach for Change Incubator.”
 |
| Bobson Rugambwa of MVend (2nd Right) is flanked by
Tigo CEO Philip Amoateng | | |
Detailing the reason why Tigo
Rwanda continues to support the Changemakers competition, Tigo Rwanda Chief
Executive Officer, Philip Amoateng said;
“Through its investment in the
Competition, Tigo is actively supporting local ICT solutions that improve the
communities’ welfare, while also creating job opportunities and skills
transfer. This is important for Tigo because we are part and parcel of the
Rwandan community and there is clear evidence that supporting digital and
financial inclusion initiatives, such as this competition, will improve
people’s lives”.
In her keynote address, the
Guest of Honor Claudette Irere, Director General, Innovation and Business Development,
Ministry of Information Technology and Communications said;
“Rwanda’s digital transformation
is a journey and this initiative fits very well in that journey. To Tigo and
Reach for Change, thank you for your contribution towards making Rwanda a
better and more conducive space for innovators. You walk the talk. Thank you
very much. We have a lot to achieve together. Connectivity for all by 2024,
Digital Skills for All by 2024, you name it. We are glad we can cunt on you as
partners in this journey”.
The sixth edition of the Tigo
Digital Changemakers competition, launched on 14th October in
partnership with non-profit organization Reach for Change, aimed at identifying
and supporting four social entrepreneurs who utilized digital technology to
improve society and positively impact future generations.
In addition to a cash prize of
Frw 8.2 million, each of the three winning candidates enjoy access to Reach for
Change’s Incubator programme, which includes business training, access to a
global network of other social entrepreneurs and much more.
Speaking at the launch of the
2017 Tigo Digital Changemakers competition, Tigo Rwanda Chief Business Officer,
Amit Chawla said;
“Together with our partner Reach
for Change we have supported 12 social entrepreneurs in the Reach for Change
Incubator, who have impacted the lives of over 66,000 children in Rwanda. These
social entrepreneurs have made use of funding, coaching, mentorship and more to
create impressive impact in Rwanda. We are also excited to bring even more
young innovators to the fore with this competition”.
Lindy Larson, Reach for Change
Africa Programs Manager, said: “We are looking for the best innovative digital
ideas that can provide genuine solutions to problems facing children and
society, while at the same time promoting connectivity, financial inclusion,
and digital inclusion particularly in deprived communities. We believe social
entrepreneurship has the power to drive change in our communities.”
THE 2017 TIGO DIGITAL
CHANGEMAKERS WINNERS
- Origene
Igiraneza (O’genius Panda)
After four years of research O'genius Priority Ltd has developed a digital
platform to help students and 78% of Rwandan schools to get access to
practical skills through digital labs that bring the learner in a virtual
reality as well as inspire children, especially girls, to join science and
technology. O'genius Panda simplifies subjects otherwise labeled
‘difficult’ through simulations, animations and applications in real life.
It also provides an opportunity for teachers to make extra income through
online classes.
- Alain
Patrick Irere Hirwa (Tubiganire TV)
There
has been an increase in teenage pregnancy from 6.2% to 7.3% in 2014-2015.
Tubiganire TV is a mobile platform that stimulates Rwandan parents to open
up to their children and get involved in their sexual reproductive
health experiences. Our platform uses a fictional TV series that is to be
aired both on TV and on our mobile application.
- Bobson
Rugambwa (MVend)
MVend
is a mobile based core-banking system that enables VSLA members to build
their financial track record by saving digitally. A complete mobile
banking suite for savings groups that give them the ability to save,
borrow, pay bills, and transfer funds, all electronically, all by mobile,
while maintaining the group's three-person authorization via 3 PIN
transaction approvals.
About Tigo Rwanda
Tigo Rwanda is owned by
Millicom, a leading telecommunications and media company uniquely dedicated to
emerging markets in Latin America and Africa. It provides mobile, mobile
financial, cable and satellite services to over 60 million customers in fourteen
countries, primarily under the Tigo brand. Tigo has been operating in Africa
since 1993, in Rwanda since 2009, and serves over 26 million customers in
Africa.
Currently, Tigo Rwanda has over
three million customers and has invested over US $310 million from 2009 to
date. Tigo Rwanda provides 4G LTE on mobile for both prepaid and
post-paid customers. Tigo Rwanda was awarded as the ‘Most Innovative
Service’ at Africa Com 2014, for international mobile money transfers with
integrated currency conversion between Tigo Rwanda and Tigo Tanzania as well as
awarded for “Best ICT Exhibitor” at the Kigali Expo 2015.
About Reach for Change Africa
Reach for
Change Africa is a non-profit organization that invests in innovative,
early-stage social entrepreneurs who are addressing problems faced by children,
youth and women in seven countries across the continent; Ghana, Senegal, Chad,
Ethiopia, DR Congo, Rwanda and Tanzania. Reach for Change runs innovation
competitions and provides Accelerator and Incubator programs to exceptional
social entrepreneurs who are supported to scale their innovations through
funding, access to technical and organizational management expertise, and
networking opportunities. Reach for Change Africa is a part of the global
organization Reach for Change which operates in 17 countries worldwide.
