Business Council for Peace (Bpeace), a non-profit organization, on Wednesday awarded six entrepreneurial youths for their outstanding business proposals that will soon develop into income-generating projects.

According to the Bpeace Programme Manager, Richard Niwenshuti, the six were semi-finalists in a competition that started last year which seeks to encourage entrepreneurship as a way of creating employment.

"Last August, we called for applications from individuals who believe that they can bring something new to the Rwandan business sector.

"Over 100 people applied but after particular selection procedure based on the business viability, innovativeness and community impact of each business proposal, six have emerged as semi-finalists,” Niwenshuti said.

Emmanuel Ndoba, Aline Murebwayire, Hervé Debarego, Alain Ndoli, Enoch Rwagasana and Sarah Mukandutiye received Dell laptops and Kodak cameras to facilitate their work.

"Each of them has been matched to a US based business professional who will be their advocate for services and assistance for the next three months. Technical advisory will also be given to develop their business plans,” he added.

Niwenshuti said that three finalists will later be selected out of the current six after which the public will vote for the overall winner.

This winner will receive $10,000 to expand their business idea and go to the USA for technical training in his/her chosen industry.

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