The winners of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Rwanda recent Terimbere Business Competition are confused why they were never given their prizes as promised by the organization.
On June 15th 2011, JCI Rwanda, in partnership with the National University of Rwanda through the support of two Dutch organizations BiD Network and Spark, launched Terimbere, a business plan competition to stimulate growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) sector in Rwanda.
The primary objective of the Terimbere Challenge was to encourage existing and inspiring new entrepreneurs to grow their business.
Gamariel Cyamatare is among the first three people that were supposed to receive cash prizes and like the rest of other winners said, “We were told before that the cash prize winners would get US$2, 500 but they are saying the first person will get only Frw 1 million, 2nd will get Frw 800, 000 and then the rest of other 12 winners will get Frw 700, 000.
However, each of the winners has been conditioned to present a consultant to receive the cash on their behalf and that the cash will be deposited on the consultant’s Bank account.
The irony is that even though a winner prepared a business plan on their own without the help of a consultant, they are conditioned to find a consultant that will be given this money.
According to the JCI current president Albert Nzamukwereka exclusively speaking IGIHE.com, explained that after receiving 700 applications, there were pre-selection and 151 Business Plan Ideas were chosen.
Those selected were invited to participate in training on business plan writing starting from 14th September 2011. After the training, they were all requested to submit in their written business plans in not later than the period of two months, that was October 18 last 2011.
Nzamukwereka adds that 14 people including those just initiating their business ideas plus others already in business in 151 business ideas pre-selected managed to win the awards.
The 14 are the only people who managed to get to the pass mark of 70% after verbal and written interviews.
Nzamukwereka while responding to the above confusion said that “it’s better to assist many instead of the few” adding that though organization had the proposal of giving them USD 2, 500 but the donors had to change and give less money but to a big number including other facilitations like trainings.
“We are driven by goodwill to support Terimbere Business Competition winners but not confusing them.”
Also the reason why winners are requested to bring Consultants is because the donor in that category has it as a policy to be with consultants in order to be funded.
Nzamukwereka challenged the winners to recognise the award given because they were internationally recognised as strong competitors.
Their video profiles were downloaded on you tube to make an aggression marketing for them internationally.
JCI President further pointed out that they have been working tireless to connect their business plans to the findings either internationally or and local financing agencies.
He concluded saying that the winners should instead be patient because that a lot has been reserved for them.
Among the 14 winners of the previous competition, JCI is in talks with the partner; National University of Rwanda to divide into both of them and in order to make a close follow up.
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