IRYD Executives and Board Members Pay Courtesy Call to Minister James Kabarebe
Kigali, Rwanda | Last Updated: December 22, 2017 2:52 PM GMT+2
The International Rwanda Youth for Development (IRYD) executive team and board members paid a courtesy call to James Kabarebe, Rwanda’s Minister of Defence. This meeting is a follow-up on the recent November 18, 2017 Rwanda Youth Convention where Minister Kabarebe was Guest of Honour.
James Kabarebe, Rwanda Minister of Defence with IRYD executives and board members
The youth convention was co-organized by IRYD and partners including the Government of Rwanda, the Canadian Association of Rwandan Youth (CARY), the Rwandan Community Abroad (RCA) Edmonton and friends of Rwanda. At the Edmonton convention, Minister Kabarebe inspired Rwandan youth in an interactive conversation where he shared on the role of youth in Rwanda’s past, present and future transformation. The event was the first of its kind and attracted over 1300 participants drawn from Rwandan-Canadians and their friends in Canada.
Today’s courtesy call meeting which took place at the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Kigali highlighted continued positive partnership between the Government of Rwanda and IRYD. Minister Kabarebe reiterated on the government’s commitment to continue working with the youth abroad. Specifically, the government’s focus on positively supporting the youth to share knowledge, business-professional networks and our common Rwandan identity.
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.
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
Prime Minister Trudeau’s International Development Policy Advisor Meets with IRYD co-Presidents
Ottawa, Canada | Last Updated: May 24, 2017 11:34 AM EDT
On Tuesday 23 May 2017, co-presidents of the International Rwanda Youth for Development (IRYD) Jaurès Habineza and Moses Gashirabake were received in a meeting at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office in the Langevin Block. Jaurès and Moses met with Julie Savard-Shaw who currently serves as policy advisor on international development to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Meeting discussions covered a future partnership with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), topics on minority youth development, women youth empowerment and the upcoming G7 Summit which will be hosted by Canada.
IRYD co-presidents with Julie Savard-Shaw, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Policy Advisor on International Development.
On youth, a future collaboration partnership would involve the PMO in upcoming IRYD initiatives such as the Symposium on Business and Diversity and the Rwanda Global Youth Convention (RGYC). These initiatives were deemed to be in line with the PMO’s focus on engaging all Canadians, supporting young entrepreneurs and reducing youth unemployment. Furthermore, the collaboration would increase participation of Rwandan-Canadians and their friends in Rwanda’s and Canada’s socio-economic development.
On women youth empowerment, the PMO took the prerogative to state it would involve IRYD in reaching out to stakeholders. This will be in line with PM Trudeau’s announcement on International Women’s Day that the federal government plans to spend $650 million over three years for international sexual and reproductive health projects. Our next initiatives on youth women empowerment will involve close collaboration by the PMO and our IRYD Vice President and Director of Public Relations, Miss Doriane Kundwa.
As a youth organization focused on involving Canada in empowering youth from a developing nation, IRYD will be invited to participate in consultations for the upcoming G7 Summit which will be hosted by Canada in 2018. The May-June 2018 G7 Summit will see issues relating to youth civic participation and jobs growth discussed. IRYD will be presenting a white paper highlighting policy positions on issues affecting minority young Canadians to the PMO in the coming few months.
The meeting resolved IRYD will be liaised with Prime Minister’s Policy Advisor on Youth to begin the process of a formal partnership. Please stay tuned for upcoming announcements relating to this partnership and future collaborations.
