The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program and UR grant top student projects at Hatana Innovation Bootcamp.

At the inaugural Hatana Innovation Bootcamp on February 3, eight ideas won $2,000 each, and twenty of the best-performing student projects received grants of up to $5,000.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Rwanda organized the event, which took place from February 1–3, with the topic “Fostering innovation for market-ready graduates.”

More than 120 University of Rwanda students, including Mastercard Foundation Scholars, participated in the Bootcamp, which was designed to improve students’ ability to generate and carry out creative ideas.

Participants, who were divided into groups of three to five, presented initiatives aimed at turning entrepreneurial ideas into workable solutions.

“I’m so excited because it’s a project we’ve been working on for so long,” said La Tasha Muganga Uwase, a student from the winning team behind the project “Legacy of Rwanda.” It is truly an honor to finally receive the attention we are due.

The project’s main goal is to use immersive technology to preserve and promote Rwandan history and culture.
“Our goal is to educate young people and anybody else who is interested about Rwanda’s history in its most authentic form,” Uwase stated. To engage a variety of audiences, they use virtual reality experiences, PC and mobile games, and children’s history books.

Our projects will now go more quickly. Making the Legacy of Rwanda Virtual Reality Museum available in museums and educational settings, ranging from elementary schools to colleges, is our first step,” she continued.

“I learned that pitching isn’t just about explaining your project,” Uwase said, reflecting on the abilities acquired throughout the bootcamp and highlighting the significance of developing a personal connection with one’s project. For others to see it as you do, you must first fall in love with it.

With their idea “Katisha Online,” a digital solution designed to revolutionize the way people buy travel tickets, Clement Mugisha and his colleagues became one of the winners.

“The concept tackles the difficulties encountered by tourists, particularly those who must travel to locations like Nyabugogo merely to purchase tickets,” Mugisha added.

Prof. Anne-Marie Kagwesage, the Program Director of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Rwanda, speaks at the awards ceremony in Kigali.

The University of Rwanda’s Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Program Director, Prof. Anne-Marie Kagwesage, praised the initiatives’ potential impact and diversity.

We were given a variety of projects pertaining to economics, agriculture, medical, and employment creation. Each project has the potential to have a significant social impact, and these are important issues that must be addressed,” she stated.

“At first, we only intended to grant 20 projects, but after examining the entries, the University of Rwanda executive team concluded that every concept was compelling and worthy of encouragement. We therefore made the decision to finance every initiative. Since all of the ideas are now viable, everyone has the chance to realize them,” she continued.

The University of Rwanda’s College of Business and Economics (CBE) Principal, Dr. Joseph Nkurunziza, who was also attending the award event on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, emphasized the school’s dedication to fostering student creativity.

Dr. Nkurunziza also emphasized the importance of collaborations in the program, pointing out that the University of Rwanda’s Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program provides seed money to successful projects in order to assist turn concepts into profitable endeavors.

Both job producers and job seekers are being trained by the institution. Many job creators, who previously faced the obstacle of inadequate initial capital, are the focus of this program. He clarified, “That challenge is now being addressed.”

In order to give students a head start in obtaining capital, mentorship, and even possible bank loans, he emphasized that the institution wants to encourage them to consider entrepreneurship before they graduate.

 

“To make sure that these projects move forward to final products, we engage with lecturers and academic leaders after this phase,” he continued.

The Hatana Competition is being organized for the first time, but it is intended to become an annual event to promote the growth of young people.

By allowing exceptionally gifted, service-oriented youth to pursue higher education and develop their leadership potential, the University of Rwanda’s 10-year Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program collaborates with the Mastercard Foundation to create the next generation of transformative leaders.

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