Telecommunication company Tigo Rwanda, in
partnership with non-profit organization Reach for Change have announced the
winners of the Tigo Digital Changemakers Competition 2015. The announcement was
made at the prestigious Transform Africa Summit, a platform hosted by H.E
President Kagame, which brings together Africa’s top leaders to shape the
continents digital transformation agenda.
This 2015 edition of the Tigo Digital Changemakers
Competition was officially launched on the 10th of July and closed
on the 29th of August. The campaign attracted interest from across
the country, gathering over 400 applicants who signed up for the competition,
260 of which were able to complete the entire online application process. These
impressive figures are double those of the previous year and reflects the
growth of digital penetration and the creative and entrepreneurial drive of
young Rwandans.
Speaking about the Transform Africa Summit, Tigo
General Manager, Tongai Maramba reiterated saying: “It is an honour to be part of a digital revolution in Rwanda. Tigo is
at the forefront of creating a digital lifestyle, which includes using technology
to create sustainable change in our country. It is with great pleasure that
once again, we get to support two more innovative digital ideas that will
create impact for future generations”.
These winners this year are Zizinga Sam and Louis
Ngabonziza. Zizinga Sam runs a project called Cartoon Home Network, a 3D
simulated animation which animates theory; helping students understand
difficult concepts quickly. The second winner, Louis Ngabonziza runs the
Nyabihu Demonstration Center for the Deaf which delivers ICT skills to deaf
children through an inclusive education program.
“We are
extremely excited to be welcoming two new Rwandese changemakers into our world
class incubator. Our goal as an organization is to empower local heros such as
these, to implement their dreams and ideas in empowering future generations. We
are grateful to our partner Tigo for making this a reality once again”,
concluded Amma, Reach for Change Africa Regional Director.
The two winning ideas will receive a cash prize of
up to Frw 14 million each and access to a Reach for Change incubator, business
training and a global network of other social entrepreneurs. The winners will
also have access to the Changemakers Hub located at the Tigo Head Quarters in
Kigali. The Hub provides free office space for all Tigo Changemakers and access
to support from Tigo and Reach for Change.
In
addition to this years’ winners, Tigo and Reach for Change also recognized the
4 finalists who also had strong and creative digital projects, as listed below:
Julien Daniel Mitali - M-star Ltd. The proposed solution is called Tsinda, an online,
open, smart and interactive study platform with exercises, tests and additional
revision tools for high school students from senior 1 to 6.
Neza Guillaine - Refugee Girls Needs You. This initiative builds self confidence among
young refugees and helps them acquire life and handcraft skills.
Laure Iyaga - Itorero Karame. This is an interactive mobile app that contain
information about the Rwandan cultural heritage.
Ndayishimye Theophile - SafeGener. This is a web platform providing basic
information on child health and developmental milestones.
Since
2012, Tigo and Reach for Change have partnered to identify and support social
entrepreneurs. In 2014 the focus of the competition began to seek entrepreneurs
using digital tools and technology to improve communities and future
generations. To date there are five Tigo Changemakers supported by the program
and have impacted the lives of over 46,000
Rwanda children.
ABOUT TIGO
Tigo is a Multi National Telecommunications Company. We have Mobile
Telecommunications Operations in 13 countries; 3 in Central America, 3 in South
America and 7 in Africa. Currently we have 31 million subscribers across all of
these regions. In Central America we are in Guatemala, El-Salvador and
Honduras. In South America we are in Bolivia, Paraguay and Colombia and in
Africa we are in Senegal, Chad, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),
Tanzania, Mauritius and now Rwanda. Tigo has an emerging market focus. Our
business model is designed to provide products and services where penetration
rates are low and where the need for telecommunications services growing due to
economic development. The brand Tigo was created and commercially launched in
our Latin American operations in 2004. As a brand in Africa, Tigo has been here
since 2006.
ABOUT REACH FOR CHANGE
Reach for Change is a non-profit organization founded by the Kinnevik
Group to improve the lives of children and youth. Reach for Change invests in
social entrepreneurs who have a strong desire to promote children’s rights, an
innovative idea to change the world for children, and the passion and the drive
to create this change. They are given salary funding and coaching in an
Incubator program, and are matched with advisors and experts from a network of
companies within the Kinnevik Group.
About Transform Africa Summit
2015
Transform Africa 2015, is
hosted by H.E. President Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, and
is a platform that brings the continent’s top political and business leaders
together to shape Africa’s digital transformation agenda.
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 almost 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 African
customers.
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