KIGALI - Jean Pierre Nshimyimana won this year’s Global Challenge Competition of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

According to a statement, his initiative, Hydro-Harvest focused on applying rainwater harvesting system to integrate the water resources management system in schools to save money and water bills.

Hydro-Harvest was one of the 14 projects awarded out of the 43 teams that took part in the competition. Hydro-Harvest rainwater is treated and can be consumed without boiling.

Nshimyimana, together with two partners, Peter Bojo and Marvin Arnold, received a cash prize of US$5, 000 to implement the pilot project at Maranyundo Girls’ School in Bugesera District.

The pilot project will act as a model to provide necessary information to display similar systems within schools managed by Benebikira Nuns and other schools in Rwanda.
Nshimyimana graduated from MIT last year with a Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering. He is currently a Research Scientist in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at MIT.

Hydro-Harvest also won this year’s MIT Tau Beta Pi (TBP) Services and Engineering Fellowship Award also worth US$5,000.

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