The Mastercard Foundation and The Resolution Project received 272 applications for the 2018 competition but 30 teams bringing together 71 scholars are moving forward to the semi-final of the competition tomorrow while the winners will be announced on Saturday, according to Shona Bezanson, Associate Director for Scholars Programme.
Ms. Bezanson was speaking at a media roundtable in Kigali on Wednesday.
The third edition of the challenge’s finalists include scholars who are pursuing impactful projects in Malawi, Gambia, Kenya, Zambia, South Africa, Ghana, Uganda, Lebanon, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Somaliland.
Rwanda is not featuring on this year’s lists but a trio of Rwandan graduates, from EARTH University in Costa Rica, won the Resolution Social Venture Challenge at the Mastercard Foundation Baobab Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, last year.
The trio of Annet Mukamurenzi, Gerard Ndayishimiye and Yvette Abizeyimana had put forward their Rwanda Youth Initiative for Agricultural Transformation (RYIAT) at the competition that rewards compelling leadership and promising social ventures led by the youth.
Winning teams earn a fellowship that includes seed funding, mentorship and access to a network of young global changemakers to pursue impactful projects in their communities.
The Mastercard Foundation first partnered with The Resolution Project in 2016. In the first two years, the Foundation and The Resolution Project have offered 34 scholars working on 17 social ventures fellowships with seed funding, mentorship and the opportunity to pursue their aspirations and increase their appetite for leadership.
Mastercard Foundation is implementing various projects in Rwanda including Hanga Ahazaza (Create the Future) and Scholars Programme.
At the media roundtable, James McIntyre, the Education and Learning Programme Manager in Rwanda said Rwanda has been chosen to host one of the three Mastercard Foundation’s centres of excellence for education and technology in Africa, adding that details about the timing and functions of the centres are yet to be established.
Rica Rwigamba, the Youth Livelihoods Programme Manager said the $50 million initiative dubbed Hanga Ahazaza will equip 30,000 young Rwandan men and women with the skills they need to transition into jobs in the tourism and hospitality sectors in the next five years.
Alemayehu Konde Koira, the Country Representative for Mastercard Foundation, said Rwanda was chosen for the charity’s projects because of the the country’s enabling environment in many areas.
Created in 2006 by Mastercard International, the Canada-based Mastercard Foundation is one of the world’s largest foundations which strives to advance learning and promote financial inclusion for people living in poverty and works almost exclusively in Africa.
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