In Rwanda, the blossoming youth population takes center stage, gracefully encompassing approximately 70% of the total. As time unfolds, the number of individuals within this age group is poised to soar, painting a picture of remarkable growth, while those who reside outside this vibrant demographic gently recede, becoming a rare presence.
This is one of the main reasons why the Rwandan government has implemented various policies aimed at addressing this youth population, both in terms of providing leadership opportunities to them, supporting them in various initiatives, and encouraging them to take on responsibilities early on as they will be the leaders of the country in the near future.
Efforts are being made to create diverse programs and government initiatives that provide support to ensure that their aspirations become a reality, and the number of youth without employment decreases.
There are programs such as HangaPitchFest, YouthConnekt, and the Ministry of Youth and ICT, in collaboration with their partners, have launched the AGUKA program, which aims to support over 5,000 projects, create around 100,000 jobs, and generate a revenue of up to 8 billion Rwandan francs.
One of these projects is being carried out by the GreenHope Group in the Karongi District of the Western Province. They specialize in the production of various agricultural machinery and equipment, supporting poultry farming and other related activities.
The innovation of the Tekahabona Three in One stove has been recognized and awarded by the Higher Education Council (HEC) in the competition for projects related to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
After receiving a prize of 5 million Rwandan francs, the stove went on to win the prestigious 10 million Rwandan francs award from the National Industrial Research and Development Agency (NIRDA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment.
The stove consists of three main components. The first component is the cooking stove itself, the second component is a monitoring device installed in the house that displays real-time information about the stove’s usage and efficiency, and the third component is a fuel-saving mechanism that reduces the consumption of charcoal or firewood used for cooking.
The CEO of GreenHope Group, Tuyishime David, explains that they have developed a device that can convert waste heat from cooking fires into electricity using a Thermo Electric Generator. He states, “Instead of wasting the excess heat, we realized it could be harnessed to generate electricity, which can be used to charge mobile phones and power other devices.”
The stove itself is a game-changer. By incorporating innovative techniques learned from their studies, three young women named Tumukunde Fausta, Tuyizere Emmanuel, and Tuyishime David, have managed to create a machine that produces briquettes from agricultural waste. One machine is capable of producing up to 500 briquettes per hour using locally available materials.
Their project was further supported by the National Industrial Research and Development Agency (NIRDA). Currently, the briquettes are sold at 75 Rwandan francs per unit, including three briquettes and a briquette-making machine. The products have been well received by the community.
They are also planning to engage with the Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) to meet the necessary quality standards, which will enable them to operate on a larger scale.
With their knowledge and skills, they are open to customizing their machines according to specific requests from customers. Tuyishime explains, “We aim to establish a sustainable business model that involves local technicians, who can not only manufacture these machines but also provide maintenance and repairs when needed.”
Tuyishime, who studies Mechanical Engineering at a university, collaborates with colleagues in the field of Production and Manufacturing Technology at IPRC Karongi. Tumukunde specializes in renewable energy technologies, while Tuyizere focuses on waste management technologies.
Their collaboration reflects the importance of collective knowledge and expertise in achieving impactful solutions that can benefit Rwandans in practical ways.
Tuyishime adds, “For me, the ultimate goal is to make these machines a common sight, just like everyday household appliances. Once we reach that stage, Tumukunde, Tuyizere, and I will continue brainstorming and innovating for further improvements.”
Their journey has not been without challenges. Tuyishime mentions that they faced skepticism and initial doubts from their families when they first started. However, with the use of the prototypes they had built using available materials, they managed to prove their concept and gain support.
“We used simple mechanisms, such as a fan to direct the heat and create a draft to improve combustion. That’s where we began to realize the potential of this technology and started developing different types of stoves,” Tuyishime explains.
After receiving guidance and support from NIRDA to develop various machine prototypes, they have now ventured into creating a briquette-making machine that aligns with their initial stove concept. The project is gaining momentum.
While the challenges of bureaucracy persist, Tuyishime and his friends are looking forward to purchasing land to establish their own production facility and expand their operations to different regions of the country. They envision their innovative machines being widely used throughout Rwanda.
