iAccelerator promotes an entrepreneurial spirit among youth and encourages them to think critically on issues related to population development issues.
Joined November 2016
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The winners are here! 🏆
The moment we’ve been waiting for has arrived. Congratulations to the #iAccelerator7 winners across the Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) and Mental Health categories.
In ASRH, congratulations to:
1. Kenza Coulibaly & Egbunike Ngozi Theodora (Swift Haven Africa)
2. Noella Lidvine Isingizwe (Utunyange Voices Podcast)
3. Karenzi Christian & Tuyishime Theophile (IBANGA)
4. Fabrice Habonimana (INTAMBWE Pads)
In Mental Health, congratulations to:
1. Itangishaka Djuma (TUZA Smart Bracelet)
2. Alain Nshimiyimana (STEPS Initiative).
Each winning team takes home Frw 10 million to support the next stage of their ideas and drive greater impact in the health and well-being of young people.
#iAccelerator7
“Through #iAccelerator7, youth are not positioned merely as beneficiaries, but as architects of solutions.” — Therese Karugwiza, Gender & Human Rights Specialist, @UNFPARwanda
Speaking at the iAccelerator 7 Award Ceremony, she highlighted the power of investing in young people’s creativity, entrepreneurship and leadership to turn pressing health challenges into opportunities for innovation, employment and lasting change.
She reaffirmed UNFPA’s commitment to nurturing local innovations with the potential to create meaningful impact in Rwanda and beyond.
#iAccelerator7
Here’s a glimpse of how the #iAccelerator7 final pitches went!
Young innovators took the stage, shared their ideas and made their case for solutions that can make a difference in sexual and reproductive health and mental health.
“There is no health without mental health.”
‘’Nta buzima bwiza bushobora kubaho hatari ubuzima bwo mu mutwe. Iyo tuvuga ubuzima bwo mu mutwe, ntabwo tuvuga gusa indwara zo mu mutwe. Harimo no kugira ubumenyi, ubushobozi bwo kugenzura neza amarangamutima, kugira imibanire myiza, n’abandi, guhangana n’ibibazo no kubaho ubuzima bufite ireme.
Mu kiganiro cye muri #iAccelerator7, Dr. Arthur Rukundo, Umuganga mu bitaro by'indwara zo mu mutwe bya Ndera, yagaragaje ko ubuzima bwo mu mutwe ari ingenzi kandi ko nabwo bukwiye kwitabwaho nk’uko umuntu yita ku buzima n’imibereho bindi bya buri munsi.”
Muri iri huriro ry’urubyiruko ryateguwe muri gahunda ya #iAccelarator7, rigamije gushishikariza urubyiruko kwishakamo ibisubizo by’ibibazo by’ubuzima bwo mu mutwe, n’iby’ubuzima bw’imyororokere twaganirijwe n’impuguke, hagamijwe gushaka ibisubizo ku bibazo byugarije urubyiruko.
Dr. Aline Uwimana, Umuyobozi ushinzwe Ubuzima bw’Umubyeyi n’Umwana mu Kigo cy’Igihugu gishinzwe Ubuzima (RBC) yabwiye abitabiriye #iAccelerator7 :
“Twabonye ibitekerezo byinshi byiza hano uyu munsi, ariko inshingano zacu ntizigarukira ku kubibona gusa. Tugomba gushyiraho uburyo bwo kubishyigikira, kubiteza imbere no kubifasha kugera ku rubyiruko n’imiryango bibikeneye.”
Yakomeje agira ati: “Urubyiruko ntirukeneye amakuru gusa. Rukeneye amakuru nyayo, yizewe kandi ashobora kubafasha gufata ibyemezo byiza. Twese dufite uruhare mu kubafasha kubona ayo makuru ku gihe. Twese dufite inshingano yo gufasha urubyiruko rwacu kugera ku makuru meza. Ababyeyi, abakozi bo mu nzego z’ubuzima, abafatanyabikorwa n’abandi bose tugomba gufatanya kugira ngo amakuru yizewe agere ku rubyiruko, kandi agere ku gihe.”
During the #iAccelerator7 Final Pitching and Award Ceremony, DG @ElodieShami Director General of Imbuto Foundation, highlighted the importance of creating an enabling environment for young innovators to turn their ideas into lasting solutions:
“We need to move beyond simply searching for solutions and create the space, support and partnerships that allow young people to develop, strengthen and scale those solutions into the future. Young people themselves can help shape the answers to the challenges affecting their lives.”
— Elodie Shami, Director General, Imbuto Foundation
#iAccelerator7
“The journey is not just about having an idea. It is about creating the space and support for young people to develop those ideas, work with partners and take them further, closer to scaling solutions that can make a difference.”
— @ElodieShami , Director General-Imbuto Foundation
The iAccelerator 7 Final Pitching & Award Ceremony brought together a distinguished panel of judges with diverse expertise in healthcare, technology, entrepreneurship, and digital innovation.
These experts evaluated groundbreaking solutions developed by young innovators addressing challenges affecting young people’s health and well-being.
#iAccelerator7
Back on the stage, but this time with everything on the line.
Itangishaka Djuma return to present the TUZA Smart Bracelet, taking their wearable solution one step further as they make the final case for how technology can support mental health and wellbeing.
From an idea first presented to the #iAccelerator community to a solution now before the final judging panel, this is their moment to show just how far TUZA can go.
#iAccelelator7
Umurinzi AI Health Assistant takes the stage, exploring how artificial intelligence can make health information and support more accessible, when and where people need it.
As the #iAccelerator7 journey reaches its final stage, this is the moment for Umurinzi to show how AI can move beyond technology and become a practical tool for better health access.
#iAccelerator7
Inshuti Connect takes the stage, bringing an initiative focused on creating stronger connections and making mental health support more accessible.
At this final stage of the #iAccelerator journey, the spotlight is on how Inshuti Connect can turn the power of connection into meaningful support and real impact.
#iAccelerator7
Kenza Coulibaly and Egbunike Ngozi Theodora bring Swift Haven Africa to the final pitching stage, presenting their approach to tackling sexual and reproductive health challenges through fresh ideas and practical innovation.
This final pitch is their opportunity to move from vision to impact and show the judges why Swift Haven Africa deserves to go further.
#iAccelelator7
INTAMBWE Pads is back on stage, presenting its solution to the final judging panel and showing how it can help address challenges around menstrual health and access to menstrual products.
After making it this far, this is the moment to showcase INTAMBWE’s potential and the impact it can create for girls and women.
#iAccelerator7
Noella Lidvine Isingizwe and her team bring Utunyange Voices Podcast to the final stage, using storytelling and honest conversations to make sexual and reproductive health topics easier to discuss, understand and engage with.
With the idea now in the spotlight before the final judging panel, this is the moment to show how the power of voices and stories can create greater awareness and encourage meaningful conversations.
#iAccelelator7
Meet the finalists of #iAccelerator7, bringing innovative solutions to pressing challenges in sexual and reproductive health and mental health.
From ASRH and menstrual health to digital tools and storytelling, these innovators are putting their ideas to the test.
With 6 projects set to be selected, awarded and supported, the competition is on.
Who will rise to the top?
#iAccelerator7
One platform. Multiple ways to connect people to essential health support.
Divin Byiringiro presents Mama-Link, bringing together USSD, SMS and a smartphone app to improve access to health information and support.
#iAccelelator7
Uwase Doreen Safari brings IJWILINK to the final pitch, putting forward a solution designed to make sexual and reproductive health information and support easier to access.
The idea has made its way through the #iAccelerator journey, and today it gets the opportunity to show the judges what it can become, who it can serve and the impact it can create.
Evidence Sanelisiwe Khumalo returns to the stage with the No Filter Platform, bringing forward a space designed to encourage open and meaningful conversations around sexual and reproductive health.
After making it to the final stage of the #iAccelerator journey, this is the moment to show how No Filter can turn conversations into greater awareness, access to information and meaningful change.
#iAccelelator7
