The co-founder of International HOPE Week, Michaella Rugwizangoga, has been awarded with the prestigious International Active Woman Award” in recognition of her several initiatives, advocacy work and commitment towards youth empowerment.

Rugwizangoga, the first Rwandan to be elected as Youth Representative for the Rwanda-Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany) cooperation, emerged the winner in the ‘Future Leader’ category at a ceremony held in Niger, and graced by the country’s First Lady, Dr. Issoufou Malika, earlier this week.

Speaking at the ceremony, Rugwizangoga shared her experience in different engagements, including the Imbuto Youth Forums and the German-Rwanda Youth Forum at the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin, Germany.

"I am happy to receive this award, not only because it allows me to bring a message of hope and strength from Rwanda but also because it gives me the opportunity to meet amazing women leaders who are making a difference in their respective countries,” she said.

Rugwizangoga recently co-founded the "International HOPE WEEK” with fellow youth from Mali and Senegal. The first "International HOPE WEEK Africa Youth Summit” took place in Kigali in December last year and brought together more than 100 delegates from 40 countries to learn about Rwanda’s best practices and discuss challenges in education, entrepreneurship and good governance. 

Other recipients of the TIFAA award came from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Mauritania, Togo, Nigeria and Niger. Rugwizangoga will collaborate with the TIFAA committee to nominate the next Rwandan laureate.