Rwandan youth showcased their tech talent during Kigali’s first high school hackathon on August 17 at Africa Leadership University. Themed “Kigali Hacks the Future”, it was a 12-hour marathon of creativity and coding, featuring 63 students divided into 12 teams showcasing innovative projects, and promoting collaboration within the tech community. The student-led hackathon focused on promoting community engagement, improving tech exposure for local high school students, and providing a space to engage with industry experts. Attended by high school students, mentors, and various tech experts, as well as representatives from the Ministry of ICT and Innovation and other senior full-stack developers. ALSO READ: Inside Irembo’s plan to make govt services more accessible to citizens Bruno Blaise Mudacumura, a student at Lycée de Kigali who was one of the organisers, explained that high school students in tech needed a platform like a hackathon that fosters interaction and idea sharing among themselves and their mentors. “This is the first time we’re hosting such an event for high school students, and we want to address the neglect many students face by creating an opportunity for them to showcase their skills,” he said. Mudacumura also added this was an opportunity for them to showcase the expertise of high school students, and to provide a chance for participants to interact with the country’s top experts in tech. During the hackathon, students worked on different projects in their respective groups, tackling various challenges from health solutions to virtual reality. Elisa Giramata, one of the students, expressed how lucky she is to have an opportunity to participate, adding that more effort is needed so that many students can have a chance to be part of the next one. ALSO READ: BK TecHouse, RTN to deploy agent services to aid school fees payment While presenting their project, only three groups were honoured for their innovative solutions. Don Durkheim, leader of the first-place team, expressed his excitement and gratitude for winning the hackathon, adding that the 12 hours spent were a thrilling journey but worthy. “This is a huge milestone for me and my team; we learned and collaborated, and this experience has shown me that age is not a barrier in tech; it’s about having the right mindset and passion for solving problems,” Durkheim said. Nkaka Manzi Fabrice, a senior full-stack software developer, underlined the event’s impact on the youth, noting that this kind of exposure doesn’t only provide them with the skills they need, but also inspires them to continue pursuing tech careers. “It’s impressive to see young people so engaged with technology to this extent. I believe that with this enthusiasm and innovations displayed here, Rwanda’s future in technology is promising,” Nkaka added. Victor Muvunyi, Senior Technologist at the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, praised the student’s creativity and technical skills, highlighting that their ideas were aligned with Rwanda’s vision for technological advancement. “The solutions presented were exceptional, and it’s clear that these young innovators are in tune with the country’s goals and are poised to drive future technological growth,” Muvunyi noted.
