Rwandan Ecologist Wins Global Conservation Award

Text of report in English by Innocent Gahigana entitled "Rwandan wins global conservation award" published by Rwandan newspaper The New Times website on 3 September

"A Rwandan ecologist, Edwin Sabuhoro, 35, has earned himself a global Young Conservationist Award for his self-driven conservation efforts.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Commission on Protected Areas and the International Ranger Federation (IRF) announced the award last week The news about Sabuhoro's triumph was welcomed yesterday as a model for all citizens, by State Minister for Environment, Water and Mines, Prof Bikoro Munyanganizi.

"Everyone who participates in an activity that saves the country's natural resources deserves such recognition," said Bikoro, urging all Rwandans to play a leading role in that."

Complete story at "Rwandan Ecologist Wins Global Conservation Award"

Category: Rwanda + Environment

US$350,000 prizes launched for SMEs

Written by BOSCO HITIMANA/From EABW

"KIGALI, RWANDA––Some $350,000 has been secured as prize money for six successful Small and Medium Enterprises from ten African countries.

Dubbed the 2008 Legatum Pioneers of Prosperity Africa Awards, the competition is organised by Legatum, a privately owned international investment group, in collaboration with Social Equity Venture Fund (S.E.VEN) and the OTF Group since late last year. The organisers last week announced the second round of the competition saying they expect 1,200 SMEs from across ten African countries to participate in the competition to be held in Rwanda’s capital Kigali for the second time later this year.

According to the organisers, the award recognises and rewards African business leaders who serve as role models to Africa’s aspiring entrepreneurs and demonstrate business excellence, innovation and profitability."

Complete story at "US$350,000 prizes launched for SMEs"

Category: Rwanda + Technology + Small Business

Starbucks reaches out to coffee farmers with Rwanda Blue Bourbon Coffee

Starbucks launched its latest Black Apron Exclusive (BAE), Rwanda Blue Bourbon Coffee across most of its stores in the Middle East, the 18th in the line of exceptional gourmet coffees sourced from the best coffee growing regions of the world.

The unique Black Apron Exclusives will help sustain coffee communities around the world through Starbucks awards to farmers for each BAE coffee produced. The production and sale of this high-quality unique specialty coffee will significantly help Rwanda's economy, and enable Rwandan farmers to improve their homes, afford medical care and provide educational opportunities for their children, through these Starbucks awards.

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Category: Rwanda + Economy + Agriculture

G24i lights the way for homes in Rwanda

By Aled Blake, Western Mail

"NEXT-GENERATION solar manufacturer G24 Innovations (G24i) has won a grant from the World Bank to develop its technology to light homes in Rwanda.

The company, based in Wentloog on the outskirts of Cardiff, was awarded the grant in the Lighting Africa Development Marketplace awards in Ghana.

The awards aim to reward the development of products which provide the most innovative, off-grid lighting solutions for the 500 million people without electricity in sub-Saharan Africa."

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Category: Rwanda + Energy + Technology + Investment