Award – IRYD

IRYD, its Co-Founder and Made in Rwanda Online Nominated for 2017 Youth Connekt Champion Awards (YCC) & Young Rwandan Achievers Awards (CYRWA)

Kigali, Rwanda | Last updated: Thursday, December 7, 2017 11:29 PM GMT

The International Rwanda Youth for Development (IRYD) is pleased to announce it has been nominated for three (3) awards at this year’s YouthConnekt Champions (YCC) and Celebrating Young Rwandan Achievers Awards (CYRWA). In addition for IRYD’s nomination as a youth organization connecting young Rwandans around business topics, its Co-Founder Moses Gashirabake received several nominations as a Young Rwandan Achiever for his leadership. Made in Rwanda Online Limited, a company started by Co-Founder Jaures Habineza to connect merchants selling Rwandan-made products to consumers globally using technology also received multiple nominations. The awards are co-sponsored by Imbuto Foundation and the Rwanda Ministry of Youth.

The award ceremony will take place on Friday, December 8, 2017 at the Kigali Convention Centre. IYRD Co-President, Jaures Habineza and IRYD friend Stella Mucyo (on behalf of Co-President Moses Gashirabake), will attend the award Gala dinner in Kigali, Rwanda.

For the past 10 years, Imbuto Foundation, an organization founded by First Lady of Rwanda H.E. Mrs. Jeannette Kagame, has been awarding Rwandan youth with exceptional talents and accomplishments through its biennial Celebrating Young Rwandan Achiever Awards (CYRWA). This year, the Rwanda Ministry of Youth and Imbuto Foundation have partnered to celebrate the accomplishments of exceptionally-talented young Rwandans in the age category of 18 to 35. Also to be awarded are “enterprises and organizations that have intentionally steered their activities, focus, resources and determination towards uplifting youth from capacity, mindset change, poverty and unemployment,” according to Imbuto and the Rwandan Youth Ministry.

Reacting to this news, Co-President Jaures Habineza, also managing the nominated startup company of Made in Rwanda Online Limited, stated that “this is great news for IRYD and Made in Rwanda Online.” Mr. Habineza has been instrumental in setting-up IRYD’s social roots in Rwanda. He is currently in Kigali, Rwanda creating strong foundations for his passion business, Made in Rwanda Online Limited. “We are humbled that our efforts to connect young Rwandans over development and business-oriented conversations, are being recognized. It’s a call to do more,” said Co-President Moses Gashirabake from Canada.

Earlier today, the Head of the Rwanda High Commission to Canada, H.E. Mrs. Shakilla Umutoni met with Moses Gashirabake to inform him of his nomination. Out of over 2000 nominations, 10 Young Rwandan Achievers will be selected from 30 finalists. Mrs. Umutoni stated the Rwandan mission to Canada was elated to learn of nominations going to young Rwandans in Canada. Gashirabake and Umutoni also had a chance to further discus future collaborations and continued good relations to continue stimulating the success of Rwandans in Canada.

**File: In 2015, Moses Gashirabake received an award presented to IRYD from the Rwandan Community Abroad (RCA) Canada (Mr. Theophile Rwigimba, former President of RCA Canada presented it).**

Since 2015, IRYD has collaborated with the Rwandan Government through its High Commission in Canada, the Rwandan Community Abroad (RCA) Canada, the Canadian Association of Rwandan Youth (CARY), key private sector players such as Equity Bank Rwanda and civil society to co-host the inaugural Rwanda Global Youth Convention in Montreal (2015), Rwanda Women Convention in Montreal (2016) and recently the Rwanda Youth Convention in Edmonton (2017). Over the past two years, inspiring young Rwandan entrepreneurs such as Louis Antoine Muhire of Mergims Limited, Moses Mutabaruka of TAP Magazine, Hubert Hategekimana of the International Third World Leaders Association (ITWLA), Sandrine Murengerantwali of Vivo Cuore Foundation and others have engaged with IRYD to inspire their peers to see themselves as job creating entrepreneurs rather than job seekers.

About Imbuto Foundation

Literally translated Imbuto [eem-bu-to] means ’seed’. “A seed well planted, watered, nurtured and given all the necessary support successfully grows into a healthy plant – one that reaches high and stands tall. Imbuto Foundation envisions this for all its current initiatives, and those in the future.” – First Lady and Chairperson of Imbuto Foundation, Mrs. Jeannette Kagame.

**First Lady of Rwanda, H.E. Mrs. Jeannette Kagame at Imbuto Foundation’s CYRWA Awards Ceremony – Kigali, 15 January 2010. | Source: Paul Kagame, Flickr.**

About IRYD

The International Rwanda Youth for Development – IRYD (‘I Ride’) is an independent youth forum on the development of Rwanda. Based in Montreal (QC), with a chapter in Edmonton (AB), Canada, and open to the world, IRYD provides an avenue for Rwandan youth, Rwandan and Canadian leaders, the Rwandan Community Abroad and friends of Rwanda across the globe to discuss issues, propose solutions and implement resolutions on the development of Rwanda. IRYD is formally registered as a non-profit organization in the province of Quebec, Canada.

Founded by Moses Gashirabake and Jaures Habineza in 2015, IRYD’s main mission is to continue to stimulate the involvement of fellow Rwandan youth and friends in the development of Rwanda and host countries. By engaging Rwandan youth and their leaders in development-oriented topics, IRYD aims to inspire over 10,000 young people to start businesses in Rwanda and host countries on the year’s heading to vision 2030 and contribute through other ways in social and economic development.

The founders became even more convinced following their December 2014 visit to Rwanda, where they met with and were directly inspired by H.E. President Paul Kagame’s focus on youth and the role they can play in economic development through entrepreneurship.

The IRYD team is currently composed as follows:

EXECUTIVE

Moses Gashirabake – Co-President & Sponsorship Director

Jaures Habineza – Co-President & Marketing Director

Doriane Kundwa – Vice President & Director of Public Relations

REGIONAL DIRECTORS AND ADVISORS

Julienne Umuhoza – Director & Advisor, Calgary

John Kanimba – Director & Advisor, Edmonton

Justin Afadhali – Director & Advisor, Edmonton

SPECIAL COORDINATORS

Michelle Rugamba – Montreal

Fidela Ngabonziza – Kigali

About Made in Rwanda Online Limited

Made in Rwanda Online is an online marketplace that sell made in rwanda products online and ship them to your location via your choosen delivery services.

**Mr. Jaures Habineza, Co-Founder of Made in Rwanda Onlline Limited and IRYD.**

IRYD’s executive team, board members, and friends thank the Rwanda Ministry of Youth and Imbuto Foundation for the support.

MEDIA

Past YouthConnekt Champions (YCC) and Celebrating Young Rwandan Achievers Awards (CYRWA):

First Lady Mrs Kagame’s remarks at YouthConnekt Champions and CYRWA2015 Awards | Kigali, 11 Dec 2015

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IRYD Communiqué.

IRYD’s co-President Moses Gashirabake wins REPAF’s 2017 award for exemplary civic engagement

Montreal, Canada | Last Updated: May 15, 2017 10:08 AM EDT

On Saturday 13 May 2017, Moses Gashirabake, co-President and co-Founder of the International Rwanda Youth for Development (IRYD) was named recipient of the 2017 award for his exemplary civic engagement (Citoyen politiquement engagé) by the Réseau des entrepreneurs et professionels africains (REPAF) in Québec, Canada. The award recognized Moses’ successful involvement as a youth organizer for Team Trudeau in the 2015 Canadian federal elections, his past work as president of the Black Law Students’ Association of Canada (BLSAC) and for having represented Canada at the 2014 youth G20 Summit in Australia.

**Moses receiving his award from Deputy Mayor Mary Deros flanked by finalist Malika Danican.**

The award was presented by Madame Mary Deros, Deputy Mayor and Member of the Executive Council of Montreal in charge of economic development at REPAF’s annual excellence, vision and inspiration gala. Receiving the award, Moses thanked his family, his Rwandan and Canadian communities as well as his many mentors who continue to encourage him. At the colourful event, Moses was joined by his fellow IRYD executives Jaurès Habineza and Doriane Kundwa alongside members of the Rwandan Professionals Forum in Canada who came to support him. Also present at the gala were official representatives from Concordia University as well as the international business law firm of Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP.

Speaking to the media after winning the award, Moses stressed that the award was a win for youth within the Rwandan community in Canada. He stressed that “civic engagement is about serving others and giving a voice to those who are disenfranchised.” He also stressed the importance of youth to be involved in shaping decisions that affect them here in Canada and abroad and that civic leadership is not restricted to presenting oneself for elective office. Civic engagement also involves organizing for those whose values reflect the change you wish to see in the world.

**Moses with IRYD executives and Hon. Emmanuel Dubourg, Canada Federal MP for Bourassa.**

IRYD congratulates Moses for this achievement and encourages him to continue working for the betterment of community. We also thank REPAF for its hard work in organizing a very successful gala that brought in leaders from all levels of government and business in Canada.

**Members of the Rwandan Professionals Forum of Canada and finalist, socially engaged categoty, Ms. Fabiola Ngirabatware.**

**Moses with Dr. Winston Chan, Canada G20 Business Sherpa, 2015 RGYC panelist and friend of IRYD.**

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IRYD Communiqué