Social entrepreneurs with projects that promote the welfare of children stand to win $25,000 (about Rwf16.7m) in the second Tigo Reach for Change Awards. The awards are being organised by Tigo and Reach for Change, a Swedish non-profit organisation that supports children and youth causes. Social entrepreneurs are individuals with innovative solutions to society’s most pressing social problems. Rather than leaving societal needs to the government, social entrepreneurs find what is not working and solve the problem by changing the system, spreading the solution, and support societies to improve their previously bad situations. Tongai Maramba, the Tigo Rwanda general manager, said this year the awards will focus on innovative projects and ideas that improve the living standards of children. “We want to identify and support local social entrepreneurs with projects that focus on children causes; initiatives that improve children’s wellbeing and lives,” he said during the launch of the awards on Monday. Evgenia Telitsyna, the project manager, said two winning projects will join the telecoms three-year incubation programme, where their ideas will be developed into sustainable business ventures. “In addition, they will receive $25,000 (Rwf16.7m) funding a year for the three years, as well as mentoring and technical support from senior Tigo employees,” she said. Telitsyna added that under the programme, the two projects will undergo periodic evaluation to ensure they attain required key performance indicators until they are fully developed and self-sustainable. Tongai said the telecom firm focuses on capacity building and support health causes as part their corporate social responsibility. “This partnership helps us in executing our strategy of empowering women, youth and children using sustainable projects,” he said. Interested social entrepreneurs can submit their innovative ideas online through the Tigo Rwanda website. Last year, over 1,500 people the competed for the award. The two winning projects included an initiative to create a football academy and solar powered lights projects that benefits hundreds of children in rural areas with limited access to electricity.
