Hope Magazine - Issue 82

www.hope-mag.com

DECEMBER 2017 ISSUE 82

TELLING RWANDA’S STORY

MAGAZINE

Strawtec turns agricultural

by-product into High-end Houses Isabukuru y'imyaka 30 ya FPR Inkotanyi Celebrating 30 Years of FPR Inkotanyi

HOPE MAGAZINE

In this Issue

CONTRIBUTORS

HOPE TEAM

Iradukunda Anime

Rumanzi Abraham

PUBLISHED BY

COPYRIGHT 2013

Allan Migadde

Keith Ntagozera

Shema Ignace

HOPE HOLDINGS LTD

Ben Gasore

Kobusingye Bonitah

Sindayirwanya Isabelle

Erwin Winkler

Manzi Joseph

Rebero Daniel

Himbana Alexandre

Mbanda Claude

DESIGN & LAYOUT

Ishimwe Yvonne

Mucyo Rodrigue

Dani K.

Reserved by Hope Magazine, a monthly Magazine published by HOPE HOLDINGS LTD All rights reserved.

The opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the editors and publishers of Hope Magazine.

ADVERTISERS BPR - Atlaas Mara Group

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Bourbon Coffee

3

Safintra Limited

4

Airtel Rwanda Ni Bomba

5

Access Bank Rwanda

8

Akagera Business Group

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December 2017 Issue 82

ADVERTISING & GENERAL INQUIRIES

P.O. Box 6176 Kigali-Rwanda +250 788 524189 / +250 788 404138

info@hope-mag.com www.hope-mag.com

CONTENTS

9

UAP Group Rwanda

22

UAP Group Rwanda

23

Davis and Shirtliff

26

BRALIRWA Limited

27

Sulfo Rwanda Limited

28

Sulfo Rwanda Limited

29

Ecobank Limited

30

Ecobank Limited

31

Mobisol Limited

33

Kigali Marriott Hotel

40

Riders Lounge

41

Engen Rwanda Limited

42

Kigali Marriott Hotel

43

Yegomoto Rwanda

45

The Arts Real Estate

46

The Arts Real Estate

47

Kasha Rwanda

49

WAKA Fitness Group

52

The Court Boutique hotel

53

Crown Healthcare Rwanda

54

Sinotruk Rwanda Limited

55

20 BABYL in the vanguard of Healthcare Revolution

Tigo Rwanda

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24 RADISSON BLU Christmas with the disadvantaged

34 RPF AT 30

7 EDITORIAL Government’s drive for Technological Innovation is paying off 10 STRAWTEC High-end Houses from agricultural By -product

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14 BK TECHOUSE innovation through Robotics camp 16 PRESIDENTIAL MONTH President's monthly activities 18 KIGALI SERENA Celebrates Xmas with the disabled

RADISSON BLU

VISIT HOPE WEBSITE www.hope-mag.com

Editorial

Government’s drive for Technological Innovation is paying off

COVER Strawtec turns agricultural by-product into High-end Houses

HIGHLIGHTS To get access to babyl’s services, you first need to register by dialling *811#, then prompted to input your National ID number which will be cross-checked with the National Identification Agency (NIDA) in a matter of seconds. The interface will have a number of options including “book an appointment”. Once you book an appointment, you get an SMS letting you know what time your appointment will take place. At the agreed time, you will receive a call from a trained medical professional who will seek to understand your condition.

BABYL RWANDA

KASHA RWANDA

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48

32 MOBISOL Winners of Nezerwa na Mobisol promo receive prizes 34 RPF AT 30 Celebrating a milestone in style 38 AIRTEL Tigo merger 44 YEGOMOTO Celebrates festive season with drivers and orphans 48 KASHA RWANDA for women’s health products officially launched 50 UMUSHYIKIRANO 2017 National Dialogue

Hope Magazine assume no liability for error or omissions in this publication. All Advertisements are taken in good faith, opinions and views contained herein are not necessarily those of the Publisher. All copyrights and trademarks are recognized. No part of this publication or contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system or transmitted in any form without written permission by Hope Magazine. Exemption is hereby granted for extracts with the purpose of fair review. © 2013

In Rwanda, there is no lack of straw, as it’s a by-product of maize and wheat farming. Yet until recently, there was little use for it, and most of it got burned.

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hat changed with the arrival of Strawtec in the country in 2016. As its name indicates, Strawtec uses technology to transform straw into construction materials – mainly walls and partitions.

In addition, they allow for a more versatile construction process, which means it is much easier to adapt the standard designs for the estate to the individual needs of the buyers. And all of it can be built in record time.

That in itself is revolutionary. The company has taken what was basically a waste product, and turned it into construction materials, for which there is a big demand and many of which had to be imported.

And it is cheaper per square metre than other techniques used in construction, so it perfectly taps into the affordable housing market, which in the coming decade will have to come up with hundreds of thousands of residential units to meet the growing demand.

In our previous issue, we highlighted Yegomoto, and this time we’re talking about Strawtec. These are two companies who came to Rwanda, identified a problem or demand, and then used technology to address these. And there are more companies like them. This shows how the Government has managed to create an environment where technological innovation blossoms, and both local and foreign entrepreneurs are taking advantage of it to address local needs in the first place, but also to find a foothold to expand on the continent and globaly.

Yet while Strawtec’s technology was initially promoted as affordable, the company wants to show that their product is not cheap but a high-quality construction material that can serve any market, whether it is affordable housing or high-end residencies. And to do so, they went beyond manufacturing and turned to real estate investment.

With the official launch of the first two houses of their Gisozi Heights estate, they have convincingly demonstrated that Strawtec’s products are in no way inferior to brick and mortar.

That is also the case of babyl, which we also portray in this issue, with its innovative way of providing health services. It was created in London, but the first country they chose to conquer the rest of the world was Rwanda. That was no coincidence. We can expect more such companies attracted by Rwanda’s tech-stimulating and business-friendly environment, and are keen to witness the technological innovations they will produce.

Erwin Winkler We appreciate your feedback. Please keep sending more on info@hope-mag.com or visit www.hope-mag.com, to post your comment on any published story.

We shall pick it and respond to you asap!

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STRAWTEC SPECIAL FEATURE

Innovation ...

How

turns Strawtec agricultural by-Product into High- end Houses

� When you see a bale of straw, it doesn’t really capture your imagination. It might have some use in cattle rearing, you’d probably think, but that’s about it. Mostly, it’s a waste product.

Strawtec's factory at the Special Economic Zone

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et one German architect, Marcel Breuer, saw it differently. He saw the humble straw, and dreamt of construction. Strawtec, which has been operational in Rwanda since 2016, is today putting the ideas he developed into practice. With its technology which presses wheat and rice straw into strawboard panels to be used as walls, ceilings and floors, it constructs houses quicker, cheaper and more versatile than it can be done with conventional building materials, yet certainly not inferior in quality. That aspect of quality might sound a bit surprising, as Strawtec’s CEO, Armin Burckhardt, admits.

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Construction material made from waste

“For a new product like Strawtec, it takes a while to get the awareness of the market,” he says. “People are still sceptical because straw looks like grass so they think it’s not durable or fire-resistant.

Basically, people have a lot of questions regarding the durability, which is a legitimate concern when you’re buying a house. That’s why we want to show people that we can build a real house.” For this reason, Strawtec conceived Gisozi Heights, a high-end realestate project which in its first phase will consist of 26 luxurious homes. which were developed in collaboration with Thoms Interior Design."

HOPE DECEMBER ISSUE 82

Two of them have already been finished (and the concrete foundations of the others have been laid), which is why Strawtec organised a grand inauguration mid-December to show that straw isn’t a cheap or weak construction material. “We have different typologies of houses which can be customised,” Burckhardt explains.

“For the outside, for example, we can add stone cladding, which is more expensive, but it’s all the customer’s choice.”“With Gisozi Heights, we wanted to give Kigali a level of quality that it had not seen in the residential real estate development so far.

STRAWTEC SPECIAL FEATURE

Guests at the inauguration of Gisozi Heigths in mid-december

We are targeting slightly below $200,000 for a four-bedroom, three-bathroom house with housekeeper’s quarters. But it all depends on the finishes, the customer’s needs,” he adds.

The project will be developed in three phases, and Strawtec expects to start the second one of 40 houses in the second half of next year. The estate will contain a mix of 3-storey duplex, 3-storey corner triplex and 2-storey centre triplex houses.

Affordable construction This doesn’t mean, however, that Strawtec is now abandoning the affordable construction market, in which it has already proven its mettle. At the recent Made in Rwanda expo, for example, the company built a small demonstration house in only seven days, much faster than any other construction company could achieve.

It earned Strawtec the award for the best exhibitor in construction, and the Private Sector Federation was so impressed that it kept the house on permanent display at its grounds, where anyone interested can visit it to see exactly what a compressed-straw house looks and feels like, and how well it withstands the elements.

“We can go for any market, from affordable to high-end, we can build houses for anybody,” says CEO Burckhardt. For lower-end housing, Strawtec is talking to the government to see how it can help in the construction of grouped settlements.

“The government is targeting to build 380,000 affordable houses every year; this means there is a lot of demand and we want to be right there to play our part. The good thing about our technology is that it doesn’t require much, so we are ready for settlements but we need the support of the government. We need a large project to show what we can do,” Burckhardt says.

Strawtec’s CEO Armin Burckhardt one of the company's houses at Gisozi heights www.hope-mag.com

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STRAWTEC SPECIAL FEATURE

The interior of one of the houses at Gisozi Heights

And in addition to developing its own housing projects, Strawtec will continue to work with other developers.

Made in Rwanda It is no surprise that Strawtec won the construction trophy at the Made in Rwanda expo, as much of the material used in their houses is locally sourced. The straw is bought from local wheat and rice farmers, for whom this would otherwise be waste, and who have been trained on how to properly process the straw.

do some major renovation or modification, or for instance change electric cabling inside a wall, it can easily be removed instead of having to be demolished as is the case with a brick wall. With all these advantages, there is little doubt that we will soon start to see more and more houses built with Strawtec’s technology – both in the high-end and affordable markets.

A construction worker in training fixes a strawboard

The paint used in the houses is also purchased from local manufacturers, and even the steel Strawtec uses is adapted locally. “We import the steel coils, but they are manufactured according to our needs here,” Burckhardt notes.

Another thing that makes Strawtec stand out is that construction is quicker and more versatile. As the panels are prefabricated at its factory in the Special Economic Zone, the actual construction of a house is much faster.

And as is the case at Gisozi Heights, the standard designs of the houses can much easier be modified to a customer’s preference. In the same way, when a house-owner wants to 12

Strawtec's model house built for the Made in Rwanda expo HOPE DECEMBER ISSUE 82

STRAWTEC SPECIAL FEATURE

Business ...

Giving a big boost to the economy and housing market

Straw bales at the factory in the past, this was a waste product

Farmer training in straw at Musanze

It provides some 5,000 farming jobs, and has trained 1,200 farmers in straw handling, baling and storage. At its factory in the Special Economic Zone in Kigali, Strawtec employs around 100 workers, and the arrival of the company and its particular construction materials and technology in Rwanda has also resulted in the creation of specialised construction jobs.

Strawtec has trained both factory and construction workers to make and use its materials

APART FROM INTRODUCING REVOLUTIONARY CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY TO RWANDA, STRAWTEC ALSO HAS A SERIOUS IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY IN TERMS OF INCOME, THE BALANCE OF TRADE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND JOB CREATION.

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t starts of course with the suppliers of the company’s main raw material, farmers who grow wheat and maize. For them, straw was a by-product for which they had no use, so they burned it.

Today, they earn extra income from the sale of their straw to Strawtec, and they have been trained on how to handle and process it. In this way, the company injects about $1 million per year into the local straw supply chain. www.hope-mag.com

Since 2015, Strawtec has teamed up with the Workforce Development Authority (WDA) to train nearly 1000 workers in construction techniques with its strawboards. The company pays an estimated $3 million per year to construction workers. As a local manufacturer of construction materials, Strawtec also reduces the need for costly imports of products like cement and gypsum boards, and with time it could even become and exporter as it is the only producer of strawboards in the region.

Strawtec, being not just a producer of construction materials but also a housing developer, will also play an important role in tackling the housing deficit, particularly when it comes to affordable dwellings. That is more than necessary, as it has been estimated the Kigali alone is in need of 350,000 housing units in the next 10 years.

Currently, one Strawtec production line delivers enough panels to build 2,000 dwelling units of 50 sqm each year, at a turnkey construction cost well below $400 per square metre.

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Innovation ...

BK TECHOUSE SPECIAL FEATURE

BK TECHOUSE inspires innovation in youth through

Robotics camp ffBK TECHOUSE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ICT COMPANY MAKERS ACADEMY IS ORGANISING THE FIRST ROBOTICS CAMP RWANDA.

Claudette Irere the director general for Innovation & Business Development in the Ministry of ICT who was also co-founder of Fablab

BK Techouse CEO Regis Rugemanshuro at the opening of the camp

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HOPE DECEMBER ISSUE 82

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he camp, which will run for three weeks at Lycée de Kigali in Kiyovu, is attended by 22 girls and 18 boys aged 14 to 17 years, who were selected as top performers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) in schools around the country. The Robotics Camp is sponsored by the BK Group, the mother company of BK Techouse. The training, given by three students from the renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the USA, will focus on agricultural solutions.

The participants will learn how to design, make and program robots that could be models for bigger ones that respond to real needs in agriculture.

Referring to the theme of the camp, ‘Shaping the Workforce of the Future to Strive in a Digital World,’ BK Techouse CEO Regis Rugemanshuro remarked the objective of the Robotics Camp is bigger than just teach the youth how to build and program robots. “It’s about learning new ways of solving problems through technology,” he remarked.

BK TECHOUSE SPECIAL FEATURE

Participants in the camp experiment with Lego robotics sets

Claudette Irere DG in the Ministry of ICT; Obinna Ukwuani, the CEO of Makers Academy; Regis Rugemanshuro, CEO of BK Techouse; and Martin Masabo, headmaster of Lycée de Kigali check on participants

About BK Techouse

“And you will also learn how to work together with people from different backgrounds in finding those solutions.” “And we hope that when you leave here you will go and share your knowledge with others and inspire them,” Rugemanshuro said. “We also hope to reap big from this, and see participants go on to become leaders in science and technology.”

BK TecHouse, a subsidiary of the BK Group, was founded in 2016. It is an Innovative Technology Company dedicated to serving its customers and shareholders by providing high quality innovative technology products and services that empower our customers to strive in a fast changing market.

On the day of the launch of the camp, the youth already experimented with Lego robotics sets, which brought up memories for the guest of honour, Claudette Irere, the Director General for Innovation & Business Development in the Ministry of ICT. “When I grew up, I didn’t have the luxury of Lego robotics sets, but I solved puzzles; for me, the fun was in the process, more than in reaching the end.

It will be the same here,” she said, adding that this also what inspired her, before she got to work for the ministry, to be co-founder of Fablab. And there, she did have Lego sets.

“I had a few of these robots running around in my office,” Irere remember-ed. She also exhorted the participants to fully seize the once-ina-lifetime opportunity of the robotics camp. “The real challenge will be for you to use what you learn here in other endeavours; this is just the beginning,”

she remarked. “We are counting on you to seize this opportunity, and the ministry is ready to support you.”

Obinna Ukwuani, the CEO of Makers Academy which has in the past organised robotics camps in Nigeria, also stressed the fact that the training is more about problem solving than about robotics. “Robotics might seem obscure, but there are so many things you will learn from this camp that you will be able to apply in other fields,” he said.

According to BK Techouse CEO Rugemanshuro, the company hopes to have even bigger robotics camps in the coming years.

www.hope-mag.com

Among its signature products is the Urubuto Education System, an innovative comprehensive school management solution.

Aimed at creating smart schools, the Urubuto Education System increases productivity, efficiency and transparency in the schools daily operations and give the parents a front seat in their children’s education.

BK TecHouse is the perfect partner in the digital age when Big no longer beats Small, and it is the Fast beating the Slow! Our key differentiators are our passionate and professional staff, our customer-centric and lean-agile approach to solution development, our cores values and servant leadership culture.

BKTecHouse is the Engine Powering Innovation!

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PRESIDENTIAL MONTH Events ...

ffHighlights in pictures on some of the monthly activities that the President has undertaken in and outside the country, for your recap

1

President Kagame hosted the End of Year Party at the Kigali Convention Centre, on 31st December 2017- 1 January 2018

2

President Kagame attended the 2nd Africa Business Forum in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt on 8 December 2017

3

President Kagame joined RPF members in Celebrating 30 years of RPF Inkotanyi on 16 - 17December 2017

4

President Kagame inaugurated the Campaign Against Genocide museum on 13 December 2017

5

President Kagame participated in the Kigali car free day workout on 3 December 2017

6

President Kagame attended the 5th AU- EU Summit 2017 in Abidjan, on 29 November 2017

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President Kagame and First Lady hosted children to a Christmas Children Party at Urugwiro gardens on 3 December 2017

8

President Kagame attended the Kenya Presidential Inauguration Ceremony in Nairobi, on 28 November 2017

9

President Kagame addressed the YouthConnekt Convention, on 17 December 2017

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President Kagame chaired the National Umushyikirano 2017 at the Kigali Convention Centre, on 19 December 2017

11

President Kagame conferred the

Order of Outstanding Friendship – Igihango to 9 individuals on 18 November 2017 12

President Kagame inaugurated Afriprecast Ltd on 18 December 2017

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President Kagame was the Guest of Honour at the Opening Ceremony of the Park Inn Radisson Hotel on 15 December 2017

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President Kagame conducted a State Visit to Sudan on 20-21 December 2017

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President Kagame attended the High Level Africa Roundtable on SDGs in Accra, Ghana on 11 December 2017

16 President Kagame presided over the

swearing in of new Ministers of ICT and Education on 13 December 2017

Events Health

Kigali Serena Celebrates Christmas with children with disabilities

ffStaff of Kigali Serena Hotel has celebrated Christmas with children from the Heroes Day Care Centre through its annual ‘Light Up A Life’ initiative.

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he Centre takes care of children who live with severe disabilities making them feel loved and appreciated. Kigali Serena’s Deputy General Manager, James Nzavara, said the hotel’s management is happy to host the children. “It is part of the hotel’s culture of giving back to the community, and it is the fifth year we organise such a party; we are honoured to have these kids here,” he said.

The Light Up A Life initiative is a corp-orate social responsibility program which runs in all Serena hotels, resorts, lodges and camps at the end of the year; they work with selected children’s homes and schools from the

communities that surround their properties worldwide, to ask hundreds of children to tell them which gift they would like to have for Christmas.

Annonciate Nyiragwinza, the head of Heroes Day Care Centre, said it helps children with disabilities recover and improve so that they can study with other kids in normal schools. “We want to thank Serena hotel for the love they have shown these children, we appreciate it very much. These kids deserve love from everyone, they can be happy like other children, so I call on parents to bring their children to the centre to get help,” Nyiragwinza said.

The children from Heroes Day Care Centre had a marvellous time at Kigali Serena

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HOPE DECEMBER ISSUE 82

Annonciate Nyiragwinza head of Heroes Day Care Centre

SERENA HOTEL SPECIAL FEATURE

KIGALI SERENA HOTEL

Potential Heroes Day Care Centre was founded by the APEH association as a place where children are given the opportunity to develop their full potential – physical, social, communication, cognitive, self-help skills and independence. The centre focuses on children with serve physical disabilities who do not yet have access to education elsewhere despite their normal intelligence.

Kigali Serena’s Deputy General Manager James Nzavara

Serena staff serve food to children

At Heroes Day Care Centre, the association creates a natural learning environment where children can learn daily living skills from and be motivated by their peers and trainers, with the support of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and specialists on specific education needs.

www.hope-mag.com

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BABYL RWANDA SPECIAL FEATURE

Health ...

� WHILE A VISIT TO THE DOCTOR IS NEVER THE MOST PLEASANT EXPERIENCE, HAVING TO WAIT FOR HOURS AND DAYS TO SEE ONE ONLY MAKES IT WORSE. WHY NOT CONSULT A DOCTOR OVER THE PHONE?

How it works Babyl Rwanda staff meeting led by CEO Tracey Mc Neill

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“Rwanda is conducive for business, has zero tolerance to corruption, it’s focused on innovation and digitalisation of services – it’s a very progressive country, driven by the same ideas that underlie babyl,” she remarks. “We want to make Rwanda the Head Quarters of our operations in Africa, and I think it was a brilliant decision to come here.”

“Our goal is to provide affordable and accessible healthcare to everyone on earth,” Shivon says. babyl’s first venture outside the UK is in Rwanda, where it started operations in the second half of 2016. According to the Deputy CEO, choosing Rwanda as the first emerging market was deliberate.

Yet to implement babyl’s system in Rwanda, some fundamental changes needed to be made. In the UK, where the majority of users have smart phones, babyl’s services can be accessed through an app that one can download on the apple store or the play store for android phones; in Rwanda, where the majority of users have feature phones, babyl developed a USSD version of the platform allowing people to book appointments and speaking to a doctor on their phone.

hat was the idea behind babylon Health, babyl’s parent company created in London in 2014. “It’s about revolutionising the way healthcare is provided, and giving a patient quick access to a doctor,” explains Dr Shivon Byamukama, Deputy CEO of babyl Rwanda. “In the end, what you need is a doctor’s brain, not the brick and mortar that comes with a hospital.”

The initiative has been such a success in the UK that the company is now working with the National Health Service (NHS), the UK’s healthcare system.

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HOPE DECEMBER ISSUE 82

The basics remain the same, though. To get access to babyl’s services, you first need to register by dialling *811#, you will be prompted to input your National ID number which will be cross-checked with the National Identification Agency (NIDA) in a matter of seconds. The interface will have a number of options including “book an appointment”. Once you book an appointment, you get an SMS letting you know what time your appointment will take place. At the agreed time, you will receive a call from a trained medical professional who will seek to understand your condition.

babyl recently signed agreements with the Ministry of Health, Rwanda Social Security Board-RSSB (Mutuelle and RAMA ) health insurance schemes, where the insurance affiliates can be covered by the insurance company for both laboratory works and prescriptions.

BABYL RWANDA SPECIAL FEATURE

“We have also received a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to roll out the system to the entire population and fund 350,000 consultations of mutuelle patients. This is a huge recognition from a major donor,” All the patient receives is a code on their mobile phone. But once they visit a babyl- linked pharmacy/ laboratory, the patient prescription will be on the laboratory/ pharmacy portal and the patient will receive their tests/ medicines as they would, had they brought a prescription form from a physical clinic/ hospital.

Shivon Byamukama Deputy CEO of Babyl Rwanda

babyl recently signed agreements with the Ministry of Health, Rwanda Social Security Board-RSSB (Mutuelle and RAMA )health insurance schemes, where the insurance affiliates can be covered by the insurance company for both laboratory works and prescriptions.

Operators at Babyl's call centre

Based on the initial consultation, the nurse will either, give you medical advice, book you an appointment to speak to a doctor or refer you to a clinic or hospital.

This process is repeated whenever you have a health issue and book an appointment. If one is scheduled to speak to a doctor, at the specified time, the patient will receive a call from the doctor who will consult with the patient as you would in a physical hospital or clinic.

The doctor will do one of four things: consult with the patient and give advice, order some laboratory tests, prescribe medicines, or simply refer the patient to a hospital for some conditions that are not suitable for digital medicine, e.g. accidents. babyl works with a number of pharmacies and laboratories throughout the country. If a babyl doctor prescribes medicine or laboratory works, they will generally ask the patient their location and inform them of the nearest laboratories or pharmacies they can visit.

to operate our artificial intelligence chatbot in Health Posts and Health Centres. We also have agreements with RSSB that allow their client base to access prescriptions and laboratory tests covered by RSSB” Shivon points out.

“We have also received a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to roll out the system to the entire population and fund 350,000 consultations of mutuelle patients. This is a huge recognition from a major donor,” the Deputy CEO notes, adding that such endorsements are a testament to babyl’s contribution to Rwanda’s healthcare system.

A doctor at Babyl's headquarters

“We have had brilliant uptake and are very excited,” Shivon says. “ In the one year we have operated in Rwanda, we have registered 750,000 registrations and 135,000 consultations.

The uptake has been from people all around the country and all demographic groups. This shows that Rwanda and Rwandans are ready for digital transformation and that there is need for our services. We attribute our success to the service offering:- an easy and convenient way to access healthcare”

Artificial Intelligence We are introducing our artificial intelligence chatbot in our call centre, Health Posts and Health Centres in 2018. “It is really an exciting time for Rwanda which will be the first country outside the UK to embrace our artificial intelligence chatbot.

Our vision is to make it available to everyone on earth allowing people to take charge of their healthcare.” Shivon explains. It has been proven in the UK that AI is actually more accurate in medical triage than doctors.”

It is not just the patients who are enthusiastic, our stakeholders have been supportive too.

As for the future, babyl’s first objective is to roll out the system everywhere in Rwanda. The next step is to expand its operations, first in the region and on the African continent. “We will be expanding to six other countries globally in the next two years.”

“The Government has been really supportive. We have been approved by the Ministry of Health and have signed an MOU with them which allows babyl

babyl is well on its way to revolutionise the way healthcare is accessed and, as they envisage, provide it to everyone on earth.

Recognition

www.hope-mag.com

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RADISSON BLU Celebrates Christmas with

children of the disadvantaged women of Nyamirambo women’s centre �On Boxing Day, Radisson Blu Hotel and Convention Centre celebrated Christmas with about 120 disadvantaged women and children in a day filled with activities that included a tour of the Convention Centre and a copious meal at the hotel’s Larder Restaurant.

otel Manager Sami Ounalli explained they had invited three organizations: Nyamirambo Women Centre, which is a self-help group for women; Centre Cyprien et Daphrose Rugamba, which helps street children reintegrate in society, and the MAI Childhood Academy, a primary school located in Nyamirambo started in 2009 which provides quality education to disadvantaged children.

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Ounalli said Radisson Blu Hotel and Convention Centre wants to be a responsible business.

“That means, responsible towards the community, the people and the environment; we have a monthly responsible business program,” he remarked.

For the festive season, the hotel decided to invite disadvantaged people to celebrate Christmas.

“We want to be some kind of family to them, to help them,” Ounalli said.

Sami Ounalli Hotel Manager with some of the guests HOPE DECEMBER ISSUE 82

Events

RADISSON BLU SPECIAL FEATURE

the convention centre, which they’ve only seen from afar; but today they were even in that big conference hall, which we’ve only seen on TV.” Thomas Sankara, the secretary of the MAI Childhood Academy, was also very happy with the day.

Radisson Blu has been working from the start with Nyamirambo Women Centre, which, Marie Aimee Umugeni, the coordinator, said is a group of women who try to help each other to improve their lives. They have organized literacy classes as well as courses such as how to make soap, for which they use soap rests given to them by Radisson Blu.

The Centre has also created a library where children from Nyamirambo can have access to books. They also produce handicrafts, which they have sold and exhibited at Radisson Blu, Umugeni explained, adding that spending the day at the hotel had been very exciting.

“It was very nice,” she said. “The children are very happy, and thrilled to have visited www.hope-mag.com

“We are very grateful to Radisson Blu for the love and kindness they’ve showed to our kids,” he said. “We very much look forward to continue this kind of activity that includes our children as they grow.”

Childhood Academy is a primary school located in Nyamirambo and started with 11 kids in 2009 with its head director as Arafat Ashdad Seth aiming at providing a quality and solid education especially to the kids of Nyamirambo and other parts of the country.

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SULFO RWAND "The Pride of the Land of a Thousand Hills" "Ishema #12 KN 82 St, B.P.90, Kigali - Rwanda, Tel: 0252576472,

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JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC SUN WED SAT MON THUR SAT MON THUR SUN TUE FRI SUN TUE FRI MON WED SAT MON WED SAT TUE THUR SUN TUE THUR SUN WED FRI MON WED FRI MON THUR SAT TUE THUR SAT TUE FRI SUN WED FRI

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Tyres of premier brands , Automotive Batteries, Acid Pure, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Acetylene & Oxygen gas, Gas Appliances, Motorcycles, Automotive Spare-parts, Refrigerators.

Exclusive dealers for PZ Cussons products, Norda’s products etc. Also offers Garage & Machine shop services.

Business

MOBISOL SPECIAL FEATURE

First six winners of Nezerwa na Mobisol promo receive prizes

ffSolar energy company Mobisol has given out the prizes to the first six winners of its ‘Nezerwa Na Mobisol’ promotion.

T

he promotion, launched late November to reward the company’s loyal customers, is still ongoing until the end of January, which is why Mobisol’s Head of Corporate and Government Relations, Louis Rwagaju, called on more customers to participate to stand a chance of winning exciting prizes.

In the promo, Mobisol customers who bring in a minimum of three new clients can win cows, school fees, bicycles, smartphones and solar stereo systems. There are two monthly raffles for bicycles, stereo systems and phones, and one grand prize draw at the end of the promo to determine the lucky winners of a cow and school fees.

The promotion builds on an already existing practice within Mobisol, which rewards customers with Rwf 10,000 when they recommend a new client.

The winners of the first monthly draw were Jean De Dieu Safari, Jean Marie Vianey Ndagijimana, Liliane Cyuzuzo, Jean Bosco Birikunzira, Jean Bosco Nsengimana and Jean Nepomuscene Ndungutse. The next winners will be announced in two weeks’ time, while the grand prize draw will take place towards the end of January.

Mobisol staff handover stereo radio system to the winner Ndungutse jean Nepo from bumbogo sector

Mobisol staff with all the winners of the first draw 32

Cyuzuzo liliane from kimihurura sector receives a smartphone won in nezerwa na mobisol

HOPE DECEMBER ISSUE 82

Mobisol’s Head of corporate& government relations Louis Rwagaju hands over the bicycle to the winner safari Jean de Dieu from bumbogo sector.

“Part of our success is coming from our existing customers who, after enjoying the quality of our solar home system, take their time to interest their neighbours and refer them to Mobisol,” said Mobisol’s Sales and Marketing Manager, Noah Manzi, at the launch of the promotion.At the first prize give-away, Rwagaju however pointed out that people don’t have to wait for a recommendation to enjoy Mobisol’s environment-friendly energy solutions.

“We call on anyone who wants to know more about our products and services to approach our offices and agents across the country, because Mobisol has the capacity to provide clean energy at a cheaper price,” he said.

Nezerwa na mobisol is still on going ,the 2nd draw will be and of January 2018 and the final draw will be in February 2018 . to recommend a customer is very easy ,you send sms : crc- name of customer -phone number of a customer to 2345.

FPR INKOTANYI SPECIAL FEATURE

Isabukuru y'imyaka 30 ya FPR Inkotanyi

RPF

at 30...

Celebrating a milestone in style

N

ormally, 30 years is a big deal for a political organization, especially in this part of the world, where political organisations tend to sprout up during every electoral cycle and are dead before even the ones elected are sworn in. For RPF Inkotanyi however, there was simply no time to celebrate, or as the party Chairman, President Paul Kagame would put it, there was not much to celebrate given the aspirations of country.

ffDECEMBER 2017 WAS A MONTH LIKE NO OTHER AT THE RWANDA PATRIOTIC FRONT (RPF-INKOTANYI). IT WAS NO ORDINARY MONTH BECAUSE THE PARTY WAS CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF ITS EXISTENCE. 34

HOPE DECEMBER ISSUE 82

FPR INKOTANYI SPECIAL FEATURE

Celebrating 30 Years of FPR Inkotanyi So these turned out not like the usual celebrations – ones we are used to of a toast, then a cake then merrymaking until dawn. At least this was not the highlight of the celebrations. Rather, there was a marathon of activities from across the country that started with community outreach activities by grassroots members of RPF Inkotanyi across the country that aimed at uplifting community livelihoods.

These activities included construction of classrooms for Early Childhood Development Centres from different sectors in the country which were followed by communal discussions on what the party was created and what it represents today.

Without going much in detail of every activity organised in line with this, the common denominator for was looking to the future – be it the focus on university students through discussion series at different higher learning institutions in the country, or the decision within the same period to allocate the youth more seats on the National Executive Committee (NEC).

During the three-day congress that was chaired

by President Kagame in his capacity as Chairman, members adopted a raft of resolutions among which was one increasing the number of youth representatives on NEC from five to ten commissioners. Now that was phenomenal.

“We’ve had time to reflect on the last 30 years, and plan for the next 30 years and more. Let’s pledge to work hard towards ensuring that those who will be visiting our country after every 10-year period will find a more developed.” President Kagame

Youth delegates campaign before 10 were elected as commissioners www.hope-mag.com

35

FPR INKOTANYI SPECIAL FEATURE

Isabukuru y'imyaka 30 ya FPR Inkotanyi As if to demonstrate that they meant business, they went ahead and elected NEC members – Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary General and Commissioners – with the full representation of the youth in accordance with the new composition. “We are empowering our youth by charging them with more responsibilities. Their contribution should define the history of our country for more decades to come,” President Kagame said while closing the RPF National Congress, which was the last of the meetings organised as part of the celebrations.

He added: “We’ve had time to reflect on the last 30 years, and plan for the next 30 years and more. Let’s pledge to work hard towards ensuring that those who will be visiting our country after every 10-year period will find a more developed.”

Now the focus on the younger generation by the RPF leadership is not something new, or rather unfounded.

36

It is premised on the fact that from the very beginning, the core founders – or at least a vast majority – of the party were actually youth.

These same youth, majority of whom refugees in neighbouring countries at the time, would later launch the liberation struggle as members of the armed wing of the RPF Inkotanyi, the RPA.

HOPE DECEMBER ISSUE 82

The RPA was rank and file composed by youth at the rate of over 99 per cent, as said by Gen James Kabarebe, the Minister of Defence, who was among the officers when the liberation war was launched in October 1990. Addressing nearly 2000 members of the RPF Youth League in their congress that was also organised as part of the 30 th anniversary celebrations, Kabarebe said: “At least 99 per cent of those who liberated the country were youth, including our highest commanders. Despite being young, they were thinking big, and that’s how we got where we are today.”

Indeed the same question about how against all odds, the RPF have continued to forge on even in the face of some of the most complex conditions, kept on coming back during the different meetings that were part of the celebrations.

FPR INKOTANYI SPECIAL FEATURE

Celebrating 30 Years of FPR Inkotanyi

There were a lot of setbacks that could have distracted us from the cause in the earliest stages of the liberation, including death of our senior commanders but we remained focused because of proper ideological orientation.”

Kabarebe

Gen James Kabarebe the Minister of Defence

The simple answer to this was ideological orientation that has shaped members of the party from inception. Kabarebe had this to say at the youth congress: There were a lot of setbacks that could have distracted us from the cause in the earliest stages of the liberation, including death of our senior commanders but we remained focused because of proper ideological orientation.”

He said that the pinnacle of this orientation that has been a guiding principle for 30 years is one of drawing strength from challenges of the day. At the International Conference on African Liberation, which was also part of the anniversary activities, seasoned Ugandan journalist-cum-businessman Andrew

Mwenda attributed RPF Inkotanyi’s resilience to four principles; “The RPF Inkotanyi is where it is today because of the culture of self-reliance, a penchant for fiscal discipline, suspicion and mistrust of intentions of the international community and high level of internal cohesion.”

How it’s not to say that that cohesion has always remained intact for a solid thirty years of the party’s existence. Far from the truth. There have been setbacks here and there especially where some cadres who have gotten drunk on power or influence which has at times led them to assume they were above not just the party, but also the people of Rwanda, for whom it was created. This was best put

by President Kagame.

www.hope-mag.com

“Those who strayed, put personal interests above the core values of the RPF allowed themselves to be used by external forces who never wanted us to move forward and be who we deserve to be. Knowing their weaknesses, external forces used praises.

“They told them they were better than the ones they fought with, better than their fellow Rwandans and they went from being leaders to being tools of external forces.”

However it has not been difficult to overcome such threats to the party cohesion. Again the answer to this has been sought from the very guiding principle; the success-against-all-oddsattitude, so the errant cadres have been simply ignored and focus kept on the ultimate goal.

37

Business

AIRTEL RWANDA QUESTION AND ANSWER

Airtel Tigo merger Q&A

Q What is happening now?

Q How will this merger benefit customers

Airtel and Tigo are awaiting the requisite regulatory approvals and everything remains the same for now.

A The benefits of the merger will include improved

Q When the transaction has received regulatory approvals, what is next?

A The two entities will commence the actual

integration process which entails consol idating our customers, operations, people and infrastructure.

coverage and enhanced customer experience across a wider network of customer touchpoints.

Our combined customers will now be part of a bigger family benefiting from competitively priced services. Our Mobile Financial Services footprint will be greatly enhanced with combined agent networks and platforms.

Q What will happen to customer's SIM cards, Will they have to change their phone numbers?

A Customers' SIM cards and mobile numbers

will not change. There will be no interruption to customers' experience on both networks for the moment.

Q What will happen to funds in customers Airtel Money and Tigo Cash wallet

A Their funds are safe and secured and they will

continue to use their Airtel Money and Tigo cash to pay for goods and services. Funds on customers wallets are always held in trust by our partner banks.

Q What will be the name of the joint entity?

A Airtel Rwanda.

Q Which number will be used by customers

A Both. Our joint customers will continue to use their current SIM cards and phone numbers.

Q Do customers need to reregister their SIM Cards

A No. If they have already registered their SIM Sunit Mital Chairman Airtel Bharti

Q Why are the two companies combining their operations?

A We strongly believe that consolidation will lead

to a greater industry stability, scalability, better quality of service and innovation that will benefit the customer. The integration will allow us to leverage the strengths of both entities to better serve our customers.

38

HOPE DECEMBER ISSUE 82

cards, there is no need to re-register. Customers will continue to enjoy all the services they currently enjoy on Airtel and Tigo

Q Will employees be impacted by this merger?

How many

A It is early in the process to comment on this. As the integration process unfolds, details on this will become available.

AIRTEL RWANDA QUESTION AND ANSWER

Q What will happen to retailers like me. Will we lose our business?

A No. Retailers will continue their business.

will not change. They should continue enjoying services on Airtel and Tigo

They will now have the opportunity to serve a wider customer base of Airtel and Tigo customers- increasing their incomes

Q Customers want to know what will happen

Q Where do I pick my stock from now? Will my

Their funds are safe and secured and they can continue to use their Airtel Money and Tigo cash to pay for goods and services. Their funds are always held in trust by our partner banks

distributor change?

A No. You will continue to take stock from your

current supplier or distributor. We will inform you if this changes in the future

Q Which TSEs or Sales representative should I contact now if I need help

A Your current TSE or Sales representative will sti ll be your point of contact. If this changes we will let you know

to their Airtel Money and Tigo Cash wallets - what shou ld I tell them?

A Tell them they have nothing to worry about.

Q Customers are asking which of the two

companies is taking over the other. What should I say to them

A The two companies (Airtel Rwanda and

Tigo Rwanda) are coming together as one company, Airtel Rwanda.

Q What will happen to the money in my Airtel Money and Tigo Cash wallets

A Your funds are safe and secured and you

can continue to use your Airtel Money and Tigo cash to pay for goods and services as you do today.

Q I subscribe to Too Much/Tigo Tribe/other plans - what will happen to my services

A You can continue to enjoy all the services you currently enjoy.

Q Where should I go for services e.g. to buy a SIM Card/recharge cards or for SIM replacement

A You can go to your current Airtel or Tigo shop, agent points and vendors to access these services.

Q What number can I call now if I have an issue with my services

The benefits of the merger will include improved coverage and enhanced customer experience across a wider network of customer touchpoints.

Our combined customers will now be part of a bigger family benefiting from competitively priced services.

A You can call your call center number (for both Airtel and Tigo). You will continue to be served by your call center agents

Q What will happen to my current contractual

arrangement/services on Airtel or Tigo Business

A You will continue to enjoy your services uninterrupted

Q Am I required to take any action?

A No. Continue enjoying your current services on Airtel or Tigo

Q As a retailer, should I stop stocking SIM Cards and recharge cards of one of the companies because of the merger?

Q What will happen to my SIM card/phone

Q Who will be my main point of contact to

A No. Continue stocking Airtel and Tigo SIM

A Your SIM card/phone number will not change.

A Your current relationship manager will

cards and recharge cards and make these available to customers. VOL now have the opportunity to serve a wider customer base

Q Do customers need a new SIM Card?

A No. Their current SIM card/phone number

number?

You will continue to enjoy all the services you currently have on Airtel and Tigo

Q What will happen to my airtime and data bundles?

A Your airtime and data bundles will not be

resolve issues I may have

continue to serve you . They will remain your point of contact. We will communicate to you if this changes

Q I subscribed to a service plan, what will happen to my services now?

will not change. They will continue to enjoy all the services they currently enjoy

affected. You will continue to enjoy all the benefits you currently enjoy

A You will continue to enjoy all the services

Q Customers are asking me what will happen to

Q As a customer, am I expected to take any

Q Do I need to change my SIM card or phone

A Not at the moment. Continue to enjoy your

A No. Your SIM card or phone number will not

their SIM Cards/phone numbers, what should I tell them?

A Tell them their SIM cards or phone numbers

action now?

services on Airtel and Tigo

www.hope-mag.com

you currently enjoy on your network

number

be impacted in anyway.

39

Events

YEGOMOTO SPECIAL FEATURE

YEGOMOTO Celebrates festive season with drivers and orphans

� To end the year in which it launched its operations on a good note, Yegomoto staff spent some time during the festive season with its taxi-moto drivers and with children at the Kwa Gisimba orphanage in Nyamirambo.

Y

Singh Karanvir addressing drivers in an awareness campaign at Nyamirambo’s stade regional

ego Innovision, which launched its Yegomoto project in September, aims to make Rwanda’s motorcycle-taxi sector more efficient while bringing transparency and fairness to the fares, for both the driver and passenger.

44

Yegomoto staff entertain children at the Kwa Gisimba orphanage HOPE DECEMBER ISSUE 82

YEGOMOTO SPECIAL FEATURE

Mahesh Kumar, the director of Yego Innovision, noted that the purpose of the successive get-togethers with was to share a lunch with the motorcyclists and the orphans to explore ways they can be of more benefit to the communities they work in.

“We want to celebrate with our Yegomoto drivers to thank them for choosing to work with us and give them a roadmap of what we want to achieve next year. We look forward to 2018 when we will be introducing the tap-and-pay and merchant business,” he explained.

Yegomoto equips the bikes with a Yegomoto meter, which, through GPS tracking, calculates the fare based on distance travelled and time taken while helping drivers navigate.

By early December, some 700 drivers had been verified and trained by Yego on how to use the meter, road safety, soft skills and etiquette, amongst other things. In just 3 months, Yegomoto drivers have covered 1,793,693 kilometres and completed 368,102 metered trips.

Yegomoto staff with riders at Nyamirambo stadium

Yegomoto expects to have outfitted all 15,000 taxi-motos in Kigali by July 2018, and will then move to cover the rest of Rwanda.

The company provides drivers not just with meters, but also with new helmets and a

charger for the meter that can also charge the passenger’s phone. To ensure the smooth functioning of the system, the company maintains the meters, provides SIM cards for the meters and pays for the data bundles.

Yegomoto staff help serve children at the Kwa Gisimba orphanage www.hope-mag.com

45

T ITY LE L A TO U Q CE A SP

GRAND PENSION PLAZA KIGALI

Grand Pension Plaza A commercial building located In Kigali’s Central Business District. It has 18 floors with retail shops on 3 of them and offices in the remaining floors. The building stands on an area of 9,422 square meters.

Nyanza Pension Plaza This is a 6·storey commercial building located in Nyanza Town in the Southern Province. The building houses Bank of Kigali and Southern Province as some of the tenants.

Rwamagana Pension Plaza A 6-storey commercial building located in Rwamagana district in the Eastern Province housing the district office and Rwanda Revenue Autholity.

DEFINING RWANDA’S REAL ESTATE Musanze Pension Plaza A 6-storey commercial building located In Musanze town in the Northern Province that houses the provincial offices and University of Kigali.

RSSB Properties: Building for Rwanda’s future One cannot go by without noticing the elegant buildings built by the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) across the country. The buildings are now a solution to what has been one of Rwanda’s burdening challenges, inadequate housing, office and commercial space. These are some of the properties by RSSB that not only beautify Rwanda’s skyline but also solve the above mentioned challenge.

Let and Managed by

THE ARTS REAL ESTATE

NYANZA PENSION PLAZA

AND GIMCO LTD

RSSB Tower II A 14¡storey office building located in Ubumwe Cell in Klyovu, a Kigali city suburb stands on 4,247 square meters of land.

The building houses Capital Market Authority, Agaciro Development Fund, East Africa Exchange and Oklahoma Christian University as some of the notable tenants.

Kacylru Executive Apartments They consist of 4 block of apartments totaling to 50 units. Each block has 6 floors. The apartments are located In Kacylru next to Laico Hotel (Umubano) and are home to most Diplomats, UN staff and chief executive officers of companies.

Karongi Pension Plaza This is a 6¡storey commercial building located in Karongi Town in the Western Province, the building boosts I&M bank and Rwanda Housing Authority as some of the tenants.

THE ARTS REAL ESTATE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Contact : +250 787 300 221

Health

KASHA RWANDA SPECIAL FEATURE

Kasha CEO Joanna Bichsel COO Amanda Arch and Country Director Dianne Dusaidi cutting a cake at the official launch of Kasha Rwanda

Kasha Rwanda for women’s

health products officially launched ffKasha Rwanda, a modern e-commerce platform for female healthcare and personal care products, has officially launched its operations in Rwanda.

A

ccording to Dianne Dusaidi, Kasha’s Country Director, the company started in Rwanda inspired by the hard work the government has put into building businesses, especially in ICT. Kasha has been operational in Rwanda since last year and also operates in the region.

“Kasha is a beauty and health platform which is was made for a multidimensional modern African woman, who acts on choice and convenience, 48

with products for woman of different social and economic backgrounds,” Dusaidi explained.

Kasha has already partnered with various local businesses to make health and beauty products available to women in Rwanda.

“We built a brand that is recognizable by all consumers as a trusted place to purchase personal healthcare products where we can provide an affordable e-commerce experience,” explained CEO and co-founder, Joanna Bichsel.

HOPE DECEMBER ISSUE 82

Kasha CEO and co-founder Joanna Bichsel cut the ribbon with Clement Uwajeneza CEO of Rwandaoline

KASHE RWANDA SPECIAL FEATURE

Kasha Country Director Dianne Dusaidi Kasha products displayed during the launch

Kasha CEO Joanna Bichsel

According to her, Kasha exists because women are the biggest business opportunity and the way women access health products today is an uncomfortable and embarrassing experience; therefore, technology can enable confidential access to women’s health products at scale. Bichsel added it is also a modern technological platform that enables women to freely order their healthcare and personal care products in Kigali.

The Kasha retail and content platform was built to be as accessible using any basic mobile phone. A client can order on www. kasha.rw where all the details on each available product is provided. On a mobile phone, you can also order from Kasha by dialing *911# and follow the steps. Lastly, you can call on the free 9111 number to order. www.hope-mag.com

49

Umushyikirano

ORIGIN NATIONAL DIALOGUE SPECIAL FEATURE

2017 National Dialogue Council adopts for national development

As is custom every year, Rwandans from across the nation and the Diaspora in December convened for the 15th annual National Dialogue Council, popularly known as Umushyikirano.

new strategies

T

he two day forum was held at the Kigali Convention Centre from the 18 th to the 19 th of December. According to the constitution, the annual gathering is chaired by the President and participants debate issues affecting the country from the state of the nation, to issues such as education, employment and national unity among others.

The annual gathering brought together over 2000 Rwandans from diverse backgrounds and professions including central and local government officials, businesses, civil society, other members of the Rwandan community and diplomats. The 2017 edition of the meeting paid special attention to aspects such as the national strategy for transformation, values for prosperity and youth at the centre of transformation.

This being the first national dialogue after the 2017 presidential election, proceedings also served to look into the recently adopted 7-year government programme leading up to 2024. The gathering featured interactive panel sessions on the various issues of concerns as well as presentations by experts from various key sectors. This ensured that diverse and various opinions and inputs were taken into consideration.

Setting the pace for the national dialogue President Paul Kagame set the pace for deliberations by delivering the state of the nation address which doubled up as the official opening of the summit. The president’s address took stock of advances made by the country and highlighted areas that required attention going forward.

His address among other aspects captured major national milestones in the just concluded year most of them amidst hardships. For instance, the agriculture sector productivity grew by 8 per cent despite the recent drought and armyworm invasion. Other major milestones he observed included the uptake of the Made in Rwanda initiative which had consequently led to the decline in the trade deficit by over 20 per cent.

50

The head of state also celebrated the creation of over 8,000 new manufacturing jobs promising that his government would continue to build on the progress.

Kagame also recalled that in 2017, there was over US$1.5 billion dollars in new investment and infrastructure deals including the ongoing construction of a new international airport in Bugesera. Rwanda’s conference tourism was also found to be bearing fruit with the country hosting over 160 international meetings in 2017 which translated to business for a range of service providers.

Key issues and resolutions Education Education took centre stage at the national dialogue council with key concerns being improving the quality and number of technical schools across the country.

HOPE DECEMBER ISSUE 82

Attention to the sector came at a time when the country is looking to establish itself as a knowledge based economy with highly qualified human capital. On the matter the gathering stressed the need to keep taking necessarily measures and changes aimed to improve quality of education in all education sectors, increasing the number of technical schools and fighting causes of school drop-outs.

Health The health sector also received significant attention especially in regards to improved service delivery, capacity of personnel and combating epidemics.Participants observed the need to increase the penetration and number of health care facilities across the nation as well as boost the levels of service delivery in the sector.

Umushyikirano Co.Logo

ORIGIN NATIONAL DIALOGUE SPECIAL FEATURE

With ailments such as non-communicable diseases increasingly becoming common causing Rwandans to travel abroad for specialized treatment, the forum noted the need to boost the capacities of personnel operating in the country. The forum took the resolutions to increase the health infrastructure, boost capacity building of medical personnel and renew efforts in fighting against epidemics.

Parent’s involvement in early childhood development The role of parents’ in the upbringing of the young members of the society was also a point of discussion given the large youthful population. To ensure the welfare of the next generation, the meeting resolved that there is need for sensitization of parents on ensuring a ‘proper start’ to children’s lives through balanced diets, child development, hygiene and the promotion of early childhood education which is a foundation for learning.

Public private partnership in energy generation and rollout Access to energy continues to be a key goal especially in regards to boosting productivity. The government has set out ambitious targets of electrifying the entire country by 2024.

The new plan 7-5-2 aims at connecting all the households in next seven years, by 2024, connecting all the productive users by 2022, and ensuring that the entire capital is connected in the next two years by 2019. To ensure that the targets are realized, the national dialogue council’s participants took a resolution to create and maintain partnership between the government and the private sector in providing more power plants which will increase access to electricity to more citizens at affordable price.

Promote savings culture and Made in Rwanda National and individual self-reliance and resilience can be realized by among other things adopting a savings culture and promoting consumption of local products.

The national dialogue council took a resolution to continue efforts to encourage a savings culture among citizens and promote the made in Rwanda initiative.

In promoting the Made in Rwanda initiative, the meeting noted the importance of aspects such as Grow in Rwanda and Beyond in order to create more jobs and to bridge the trade imbalance gap.

Rwandan values Noting the importance of maintaining and preserving Rwandan cultural values despite the trends of globalization, the gathering’s participants took a resolution to protect and pass on values of the Rwandan culture and inculcate them among children both in Rwanda and diaspora.

Teaching Kinyarwanda As part of enhancing the passing down of the Rwandan cultural values to younger citizens, the forum also deemed it fit to enhance partnership

www.hope-mag.com

among various institutions to teach Kinyarwanda in family settings, schools and media. It was resolved that there is need to enhance partnership among state institutions, civil society, religious entities to ensure that all Rwandans can use their mother tongue.

Youth camps Young people’s partnership and working in unison for national development can be greatly fostered through youth camps, the meeting resolved.

The youth camps will serve to encourage the harmonious efforts in national development and also create a window for them to partner with the government.

The council is one of Rwanda’s home grown solutions that encourages citizen participation and involvement in national strategy formulation as well as taking stock of the progress in national development. Resolutions from sessions in previous years have seen major bottlenecks to development address and development oriented strategies adopted.

51

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