Regional environment body awards best performer

Solange Uwera, a recent graduate from National University of Rwanda (now University of Rwanda’s college of Arts and Humanities) yesterday received a computer and a certificate from the Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS) for best performance in a recent competition.ARCOS organised a competition, dubbed Youth Poster Competition, to coincide with the International Mountain Day that falls on December 11.Contestants were required to produce a poster that clearly shows how important mountains are for both highland and lowland dwellers in terms of boosting their economic growth in a sustainable manner.The poster had to carry the message of how goods and services derived from mountains are essential for sustainable development.The competition targeted students and young people from all over Africa with the aim of raising awareness on sustainable mountain development as well as reflecting this year`s theme; “Mountains - Key to a Sustainable Future” on the African continent.“Just like in any other competition, everyone wishes to win but, of course, not everyone can be a winner; and for this particular completion, I am actually grateful that I made it to the top,” Uwera said.She added that having grown up in a country of many hills, her love for mountains contributed to her success in this particular contest.In addition to the prizes Uwera won, she is now also a member of the organisation, something that gives her the opportunity to attend its meetings and make contributions, according to the organisation’s Regional Information Systems Manager, Faustin Gashakamba.The Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS) has been mandated by peer members of African Mountain Partnership to coordinate their efforts to promote sustainable mountain development initiatives in Africa.