The Emerging Leaders and Entrepreneurs of Rwanda (ELE Rwanda) is a youth entrepreneurship platform with a mission to "inspire, motivate and empower young adults to become active participants in the economy and development of Rwanda.” It connects students to innovators, advocates, mentors and investors through a string of activities.

On July 24, the forum will host Rwanda Youth and Business Excellence Awards. Moses Opobo spoke to Yves Iradukunda, the company’s CEO about the event.

What is the idea behind the Youth and Business Excellence Award 2014? 

The goal of the Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Gala 2014 is to foster entrepreneurial innovation among the youth of Rwanda by showcasing innovative initiatives championed by Rwandan youth and connecting future leaders and entrepreneurs to mentors, supporters, investors, and partners to help them bring their dreams and ideas to fruition. 

With a general theme of Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation, this gala will feature business leaders and potential investors from key sectors of the Rwandan economy, along with Rwanda’s brightest youth eager to showcase their innovative ideas and to learn about the opportunities available for them to propose sustainable solutions. 

What are some of the key highlights of the gala night?

The gala will highlight the role of the youth in economic development. In order to encourage new and innovative home-grown solutions, projects that have had a big impact will be recognised as well as individuals and institutions that promote youth empowerment through entrepreneurship and job creation. The gala will also include a ceremony and cocktail reception in the evening to give out the creativity awards which will be presented to the winners of the competition.

The Creativity and Innovation Camp (CIC) is a competition organised by ELE Rwanda for young Rwandans to acquire skills and the I-can-do-it-too spirit. The other category is the Rwanda Innovation Awards that recognises the most creative and innovative start-up or existing venture by a young Rwandan in 2014. Nominations for Innovation Awards will be open to the public, and shortlisted nominees will present their ventures during the gala. 

This year, we shall recognize the most highly desired workplace in Rwanda through an online voting process that will give students and the Rwandan public at an opportunity to choose which company or institution they dream to work for.

Away from the awards, what has ELE Rwanda achieved in the area of youth empowerment so far? 

In the past two years, ELE Rwanda organised two successful entrepreneurship summits in the US that each drew more than 200 Rwandan students; two business plan competitions through which $10,000 in cash and more than $30,000.00 worth of training and mentorship were awarded to winners.  

Additionally, a creativity and innovation camp trained about 35 students in 2013 and 30 in its pilot phase in 2012. Youth projects featured by ELE Rwanda platform have grown to create positive change in the social and economic welfare of the country’s youths.