Rwanda

Eleven young Rwandan professionals, aged between 21 and 35, have graduated from the Young Impact Associates (YIA) Program.

Financial literacy is a catalyst for enhancing access to finance for Rwandan MSMEs.

Rica Rwigamba, Mastercard Foundation, provides reflections on tourism, digital readiness, and the future of our young generation in Rwanda.

EdTech in Rwanda is at an early but promising stage. Now is the time to build on this momentum to create a strong and inclusive EdTech industry in the country. Laterite, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, has prepared a new report that maps the state of the EdTech ecosystem in Rwanda.

A Mastercard Foundation Scholar studying economics in France, Gaju Benita Rutagarama is also working with iDebateRwanda to train children back home in public speaking, leadership, and owning their stories. “Debating allowed me to discover my leadership potential and my ability to influence others. That is why I am convinced that debate is a valuable and life-changing experience for the post-genocide generation of Rwanda to rise and create a better country,” she says.  

With the influence and reach of African artists and creatives having now gone global (thanks to social media marketing and digital streaming services), the continent’s creative sector is gaining momentum and interest from abroad. But what does this mean for a sector that is often overlooked and untapped from within? Helping creative entrepreneurs leverage digital technology through upskilling and digital literacy training, so they can capitalize on rising economic potential. 

Women and girls are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) across the globe. And in many areas of Africa, there is a demonstrated lack of female STEM role models, as well as domestic pressures placed on girls and an entrenched cultural perception that men and boys are more suited to this work. To help close the gender gap, the Mastercard Foundation collaborates with local partners to design programs for increased participation of African girls and women in STEM education, two of which are in Rwanda.  

MasterCard Foundation Scholars Jobe  Wuyeh and  Ozioma Paul were set to launch a blood drive and storytelling initiative in Rwanda. Then COVID-19 hit, and the pair had to think fast about how to give back to these same communities, now made even more vulnerable by the pandemic. They came up with the HOPE Campaign to raise funds in support of Solid’Africa, an NGO helping vulnerable patients by providing meals, hygienic products, and other services to accelerate their recovery

“I was raised from a humble background. I know what it is like having a day without food,” says 25-year-old Norman Mushiga. When the COVID-19 pandemic led to social isolation and closed businesses in Rwanda, the agricultural studies graduate felt compelled to act. He began working with the local government to help identify the families most in need, and it wasn’t long before Mushiga’s friends at home and abroad joined in. Now, Mushiga and a small team of volunteers support 250 vulnerable families, including 50 women who are survivors of the 1994 genocide. 

Marie Pierre enjoyed her part-time volunteering job translating maternal and infant health information into local languages for Uridu, an international NGO. But when the call came to translate critical health protocols to help stop the spread of COVID-19, the Mastercard Foundation Scholar stepped up. “Our project targets rural women and marginalized women,” says Pierre, who now works six hours every day translating life-saving information for the local community.