Rwanda: Over 1000 young changemakers seek solutions to world’s most crucial problems
By Regina Leke Tandag, from Kigali, Rwanda
1000 young people drawn from 130 countries have kickstarted a week-long incubation program at the Rwandan capital, Kigali. Dubbed Unleash Rwanda Innovation Lab for the SDGs, the program is bringing together youngsters under 35 from all over the world to co-create solutions for the most pressing challenges humanity is facing, seeking innovative solutions for the attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the SDGs.
Cross section of participants.
Saturday, December the 2, 2023, marked the opening of the innovation lab at the Kigali Convention Center. The highly animative opening ceremony saw representatives of different countries put up a colorful dance performance depicting their different cultures. Songs and dances depicting Rwanda’s past, present and the future also lighted up the room, as well as beautiful experience sharing of Unleash alumni.
Cultural Dance performance of some participants
The ceremony held under the distinguished patronage of Rwanda’s Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Edouard Ngirente who reminded the youth their voice counts ” Dear youths, the future rests in your hands. Use today to shape the tomorrow and the future you want. Develop solutions knowing that your voice matters, your ideas are needed and your action is more urgent than ever.” – He noted
To the Chairperson of UNLEASH, Professor Flemming Besenbacher, the innovation lab holding for the first time on the African soil is a moment of thought for a continent who contributes just 4 percent of global carbon emissions yet remain the continent that suffers the most from climate change.
Officials take picture after the opening ceremony.
‘We are today faced with huge challenges. only 15% of the SDGs are on track. The others are unfortunately going in reverse direction ” Prof. Flemming also lamented while encouraging the young people to use this opportunity to find innovative solutions to solve the world’s biggest problems be it climate change, poverty, inequality to name these. He added, if the young people utilize this opportunity effectively, Rwanda will not just be the land of a thousand hills, but would be remembered as a land of a thousand talents.
Other notable speakers included officials from the Mastercard Foundation, the UNHCR and Rwandan’s Minister of ICT who all encouraged the young people to take active steps in becoming the change they want to see in the world as they embark on this journey of a lifetime.
Regina Leke is a multiple award-winning Journalist working as Head of Corporate Communication at a leading food and beverage ingredients brand, Olam Food Ingredients (ofi Cameroon). She is currently taking part in the global gathering alongside her colleagues from Nigeria, Vietnam, and Ghana as part of the company’s Learning and Development Program.
About Unleash
UNLEASH is a non-profit organization with a mission to accelerate positive change toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by mobilizing young talented people in community leadership, problem-solving, and launching social and environmental solutions.
