Tigo Rwanda launches Digital Changemakers Competition 2017

Tigo Rwanda, in partnership with non-profit organization Reach for Change, has today launched its annual competition, the Tigo Digital Changemakers Award. The competition aims at identifying and supporting social entrepreneurs with digital tools and technology to improve communities and impact future generations. Tigo Rwanda is looking for innovations that focus on broadening financial inclusion and digital inclusion.

After an extensive selection process that involves both Tigo, Reach for Change and external experts, three winning initiatives will each receive a financial award and support to grow their organization in the Reach for Change Incubator program. In addition to the cash prize of Frw 8,2 million each, the selected ideas will receive tools to support their social enterprises and develop as leaders and access to a global network of existing social entrepreneurs. The application period for the competition is now officially open and applications will be received until November 17, 2017.

Speaking at the launch event at KLab, Tigo 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.”

Applications are open from the 13th of October to the 17th of November. Individuals with initiatives that use digital tools and technology to create impact are encouraged to apply. More information about the competition can be found by visiting http://rwanda.apply.reachforchange.org/en/app/accounts/login/?brand=tigo

To stand a chance to win the competition, the applicants must have a working prototype in place that fits into financial Inclusion or digital Inclusion; have potential for a great social impact, be scalable, financially sustainable, and system changing.

Applicants who need support with the application process are invited and encouraged to visit the Tigo Service Center, located at Union Trade Center (UTC), between 8:00AM and 5:00PM during week-days, to get support with completing and submitting their applications. They can also email their enquiries to rwanda@reachforchange.org

Meet the current Tigo Digital Changemakers

Auxilia Ndamage is working to include Rwanda's farmers in the financial system through her organisation AfroVector, by digitizing the agriculture value chain and providing farmers with access to financial services like savings, loans and pensions so that they can provide their families with a better future.

Erick Joseph has developed Family Wallet, a digital application that helps informal workers save a portion of their earnings. It also tracks their income and expenses to help them build credit, access loans and create a better life for themselves and their families through access to financial services.

Emile Babu has developed iSOKO, a virtual marketplace to help low-income workers not only to earn more income, but also to lay the foundation for them to build credit so that they can access small loans to help their families and send their children to school.

Julien Daniel Mitali is working to help more students prepare for and pass their national examinations through a digital platform, Mimschak Star, that connects them to learning materials, career development and specialized teachers.

Gaspard Twagirayezu runs an organization called Creation Hill that inspires Rwandan youth to become creators rather than just consumers of technology through schools tech fairs, tech clubs and e-camp programs. Gaspard’s vision is to create a world where Africans are pioneering new technological solutions to national, regional and global problems.

Martine Umulisa founded Kaami Arts, with a team of other artists with backgrounds in music, theatre, cinema, photography, dance to help address some of the most vulnerable children in Rwanda. Kaami Arts provides children with platforms for expression, creativity, problem solving, positive thinking, and confidence building, and helps them to use their artistic abilities to create social change.

Dominique Alonga is a young activist who is using her organization, Imagine We, to create a vibrant reading culture among children in Rwanda. Imagine We organizes national read-a-thon events and is working to equip schools across the country with their own libraries.

Sam Zizinga is working to change the way that children learn, helping them to do better in school. His Cartoon Home Network provides school-aged children with video simulations that provide practical demonstrations of the theory covered in the curriculum, to help them better retain concepts.

Louis Ngabonziza founded the organization Empowering Children with Disabilities which is working to ensure that deaf children access the resources they need to succeed. By providing hearing impaired children and youth with formal education, technology and vocational skills, Louis is working to build a generation of confident, self-sufficient young Rwandans.

Yves Iradukunda runs Academic Bridge a program that empowers schools to efficiently collect and manage students’ information, the end goal being to ensure a successful education system for children where parents are fully involved in their child’s education and development.

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.