High school students with entrepreneurial ideas walk away with cash prizes

THE INSPIRER

High school students from Green Hills Academy, Lycee de Kigali and Riviera High school have won cash prizes for their innovative ideas in the ceremony at Green Hills school.

The 2^nd YES High school award event was occasioned on Friday May 18, 20182018 sponsored by the Bank of Kigali, MTN Rwanda and National youth council was themed the ‘Dividends of starting business while young’

Yasipi Casmir Uwihirwe, a senior six-student in Mathematics-Physics and Chemistry at Lycee de Kigali (LDK) scooped Rwf150,000 cash prize and a new smart phone after emerging as the winner during the Yes Award second edition 2018.

“My project is called “idea network” or “I Net” it is a mobile application and job creation platform. It can help people who have entrepreneurship ideas to know what it can take to get to the final goal, the way it came up to succeed is that it is very significant towards job creation and it is easy for implementation,” she says.

“I want to be a business woman, focusing on innovation starting with this mobile application, I will not just stop this from the high school but make sure that further steps are being taken as far as designing software’s since I am doing related fields like MPC, Mathematics, Physics and Computer,” Yasipi noted.

Vraaj Patel, the 2nd run up from the Green Hills Academy was also awarded with Rwf100,000 cash prizes followed who pitched the “Better business” that deals will data analytics for the business start-ups followed by the Riviera high school team that come with paper recycling who walk away with Rwf 125,000

Officials speak out

Young entrepreneurs have been urged to take advantage of opportunities provided by the services and information communication technology (ICT) sectors and start business ventures as part of ways to reduce unemployment and poverty in households.

The two sectors offer youth immense opportunities that young entrepreneurs can tap to set up businesses that will help improve livelihoods and also support their communities.

Regis Rugemanshuro, CEO, BK Techouse an Innovative Technology Company dedicated to delight customers, employees and shareholders by providing high quality Innovative Technology products, advised the youth that they need to work hard for them to be able to contribute to the economy of the country through creating jobs.

According to Allain Numa, Head of the Marketing strategy and sponsorship MTN Rwanda, says, the most important thing in the business is to get support and funding. However, when the brand is weak no one would dare to fund you. “Think about the Revenue Generation our world is about profit making and always spark ideas will be recognized,” He advised.

Anna Bagabe, Green Hills Academy Principal says schools have to train the students right away from the young ages on how to create jobs by insisting on critical thinking and creativity for them to be able think beyond classroom lectures.

“On our part we train students to moderate the assemblies to help them learn from the mistakes through public speaking,” she says.

About YES High school awards

 YES Awards was introduced in 2018 by All Trust Consult Ltd where business leaders meet and inspire high school students to create jobs than seeking. YES=Youth Entrepreneurship Start-ups.