Rwanda’s local nominee for Faidika na BBC (Prosper with the BBC) programme has expressed optimism ahead of the regional finals slated for Thursday 13 August in Mombasa, Kenya.

In an exclusive interview with The New Times, Aladin Hakizimana said that he is upbeat to come out top in a competition where he stands to win US$5000(Rwf 2.8m) .

The programme allows youths with the knowledge of Kiswahili to submit viable projects that can have a positive impact on their respective communities.

"I know it will not be easy, but I am confident that my project will be selected because it does not only impact my community, but also the country in the move to protect environment,” Hakizimana said.

His project "planting of papyrus reeds along river Nyabarongo to fight soil erosion and protect the river from drying” was developed after many studies by the Ministry of Agriculture, Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) and the Ministry of Land and Natural Resources cited that thousands of tonnes soil was washed away by erosion.

According to REMA estimates, 500,000 tonnes of soil are washed away every year. 

A press statement from BBC-Swahili named six finalists of the Faidika na BBC young entrepreneur competition.

The nominees are selected after a national young entrepreneur competition from East and Central African countries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

The 18 year old student presented two ideas, the other being to develop threads out of banana fibres.

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