Miss Rwanda 2015 sets bar high as Kundwa is crowned

Perhaps this is the year that Miss Rwanda search got the whole country talking. The public picked a lot of interest never seen in the history of Miss Rwanda. Indeed, it was not surprising that Kigali Serena Hotel was packed to the brim during the grand finale. The show that started at 6:30pm, ended with the crowning of 19-year-old Doriane Kundwa as Miss Rwanda 2015. Out of the 15 finalists, Kundwa was also the public’s favourite from the beginning. She walked away with a brand new Suzuki SX4 courtesy of Cogebanque and will get a monthly stipend of $1000 (Rwf 700,000) among other prizes. At 7pm, the judges including musician Intore Massamba, Kigali fashion Week founder John Bunyeshuli, fashion critic Blanche Majoro and former Miss East Africa, Cynthia Akazuba set the ball rolling.

In the first session, the contestants were tested on their knowledge of culture. They came on stage each carrying an item related to culture. Each contestant described the item they were carrying and what it’s used for.

The second session was question time as contestants answered questions ranging from development, education, current affairs and politics. After the question and answer session, the girls changed into casual wear and did catwalk. After the three sessions which were spiced up by interludes of music, it was time for the Judges to reveal the winners.

And it was Doriane Kundwa, Fiona Ntaringwa, Balbine Mutoni, Vanessa Raissa Uwase and Lynca Akacu who had made it into the top five. However, to get Miss Rwanda, the girls had to answer more questions from the judges relating to what they want to accomplish if crowned Miss Rwanda.

Akacu said that if crowned she would provide a safe environment for orphans. Kundwa said she would promote talent development among the youth. She emphasised it by saying that Rwanda is a land-locked country that is not rich in minerals; the only way to develop the country is by building a knowledge based economy which promotes talent.

Ntaringwa said she would focus on promoting ICT among the youth since it provides various avenues for employment.

Uwase talked about rehabilitating sex workers and raising awareness about the dangers of prostitution. Mutoni said she would work hard to promote the Rwandan culture among the youth.

After listening to the five girls, the judges deliberated and at 11:55pm, Doriane Kundwa was announced as the winner.

Akacu was second runner up while Uwase was first runner up. However before that, Sabrina Kalisi Ihozo was crowned Miss Photogenic, Doriane Kundwa (Miss Popularity), Joannah Keza Bagwire (Miss Congeniality) while Darlene Gasana was crowned Miss Heritage.

Musical performances were done by former Tusker Project Fame winner Hope, Jules Sentore, Marie Yohana, Tonzi, Ciney and Nigerian duo Additiction.

The search for Miss Rwanda 2015 started in January with auditions in all provinces including Kigali city. 120 girls registered for the competition which would eventually produce the fourth Miss Rwanda.

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Welcome to the city of life VARANASI

Mark Twain, the famous English author once wrote: “Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legends and looks twice as old as all of them put together.”

Varanasi, also known as Benares is situated on the banks of river Ganga and is the state capital of Lucknow. The city is said to be the oldest living city in the world, with a known prominence in Hindu mythology.

Pilgrims flock to Varanasi every year. The city is considered a very auspicious place to die, since dying here offers moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death).

Being located in the Indo-Gangetic plains, the land in Varanasi is very fertile. The climate is subtropical and large variations can be seen between summers and winters. Temperature ranges between 22 and 46°C in summers. The average annual rainfall is 1,110 mm (44 in). Fog is common in the winters, while hot dry winds, called loo, blow in the summers.

Varanasi- Where to go?

 Varanasi is famous for its spiritualism and mysticism. Pilgrims and tourists flock to the city to experience some of the rare experiences. Varanasi is most famous for its ghats and temples. Situated on the banks of the river Ganga, ghats are a major tourist attractions. The Ganga Ghats (river fronts) are the main center of religious activities and rituals and also form one of the main attractions of Varanasi.

The Alamgir Mosque, blend of the Hindu and Mughal styles of the architecture, is another important attraction of Varanasi.

Some of the most important temples of Varanasi are Durga Temple, Vishwanath Temple, Sankat Mochan Temple, Tulsi Manas Temple and the Bharat Mata Temple.

The Bharat Mata Temple houses a huge map of the whole of Indian subcontinent and Tibetan plateau. Other attractions of Varanasi are the Benares Hindu University (BHU), the Archaeological Museum, Sarnath, Bharat Kala Bhavan and the Buddhist Stupas and temples at Sarnath.

Besides numerous temples, Varanasi also brags Buddhist Stupas and Jain temples. Varanasi is also a mirror of the age-old Indian civilization. The archaeological museum at Sarnath houses numerous remains of the past, including the National emblem of India, the Ashoka pillar.

Another major tourist attraction in Varanasi is the Ramnagar fort. The fort is situated around 14 km from Varanasi, and is the ancestral home of the Maharaj of Benares. The Ramnagar fort houses a museum displaying the Royal collection which includes vintage Cars, Royal palkies, an armory of swords and old guns, ivory work and antique c l o c k s .

The Durga Temple and Chhinnamastika Temple are also located at Ramnagar.

Boat Ride in Ganga, Anyone?

River boat rides at Varanasi are an exquisite experience. The early-morning light is particularly inspiring, and all the color and clamor of pilgrims bathing and performing puja unfolds before you. An hour-long trip, south from Dashashwamedh Ghat to Harishchandra Ghat and back is popular.

Paan Benares Wala…

Varanasi’s food is defined by its prominence in Hindu culture and tradition and its regional influences. The food is mouthwatering, and a relief from the otherwise hustle bustle of the chaotic city. Here’s a list of delicacies in Varanasi, one mustn’t miss:

• Kachori-subzi: A traditional breakfast of UP-ites, it’s the best meal one can start their day with. It’s blissful especially after the “Ganga snaan (bath)”. A reasonable and filling dish popularly sold at “Kachori Gali” filled with the heady aroma of fried batter, Kachori is like puri w i t h di f ferent avatars and is served with perfectly cooked spicy sabzi.

• Jalebi Rabri- Jalebi and Rabri is a killer combination. If you are in Varanasi, you should not miss the stalls at Vishwanath Gali.

Jalebis here are served in a dip of Rabri, which is sweetened condensed milk, making it a famous Banarasi grub.

• Lassi- This cold and luscious sweetened yogurt is served in Kulhads (small earthen cups) with a thick topping malai (cream) making it absolutely irresistible.

• Chaats (Aloo & Tamatar) – A famous saying in Varanasi states that people come to Varanasi for two reasons- “Ek banaras ke ghats dusra banaras ke chatpate chaats”, do we need to say more?

• Thandai- It is a cooling drink made of purified water, sugar, seeds of watermelon and muskmelon, almonds, lotus stem seeds, cashew nut, cardamom, saunf, rose-flower, white pepper, saffron.

• Paan- One just cannot leave Banaras without tasting the epic Paan. A preparation of betel leaf combined with nuts, cured tobacco, katha, chuna, etc., Banarasi Paan is the most renowned Paan in the world.

One of the blindly colorful, unrelentingly chaotic and unapologetically indiscreet places on earth, Varanasi is a must visit place.

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World Bank-supported bootcamp jump-started the 20 most innovative green startups in Ghana

Twenty Ghanaian high-potential startups have concluded the first national bootcamp designed to promote local entrepreneurship and innovation in clean technologies. The initiative was organized last week by the soon-to-be-launched World Bank/infoDevs Ghana Climate Innovation Center (GCIC). The bootcamp aimed to identify and launch growthoriented Ghanaian e n t r e p r e n e u r s and new ventures involved in d e v e l o p i n g profitable and locally relevant solutions to climate change. Several studies, including the World Banks report Economics of Adaption to Climate Changeand Ghana's National Climate Change Policy Framework, have stressed how significant the impact of climate change will be on Ghana's economy, people and development. Crop yields are predicted to decline by 7% by 2050 due to higher temperatures, while sea levels are expected to rise over one meter this century, causing the erosion of 1,120 square kilometers of land.

Ghana is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and as such, its prospects for continuous growth will depend on the country's ability to build competitive and climate-resilient industries, said Yusupha B. Crookes, World BankCountry Director. In line with the National Climate Change Policy, by accelerating the development of local clean technology companies the Ghana Climate Innovation Center will help reduce the countrys vulnerability to climate change, while also creating jobs and promoting investments in new clean technologies.

The twenty clean-tech companies in the bootcamp were competitively selected after a nation-wide campaign that led to almost 90 applications in a few weeks. Only the companies with the highest level of innovation, technical expertise, and potential for commercial success were invited to the bootcamp. The bootcamp consisted of an intense two-day training program designed to refine the entrepreneursbusiness concepts and a pitching contest held in front of a panel of local investors and industry experts. The bootcamp is the first of a series of activities that the Ghana Climate Innovation Center will implement to support the countrys National Climate Change Policy. After its official inauguration in mid-2015, the center will provide up to 200 local companies with business facilities and a targeted suite of services that includes early-stage financing, technology commercialization, business development and capacity building support.

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Vodacom, Tigo claim ‘Africa's first mobile money interoperability deal'

Tanzanian cellcos Vodacom and Tigo have signed a mobile money interoperability agreement to enable their respective M-Pesa and Tigo Pesa subscribers to transfer money directly into each other's mobile wallets, in what they claim represents the first deal of its kind in Africa.

Vodacom described the move as: ‘another tangible step towards the enhancement of financial inclusion [and] the expansion of the mobile money eco-system in Tanzania.' Meanwhile, Rene Meza, managing director at Vodacom Tanzania added: ‘We expect to launch the service by the end of the year and are currently working on upgrading our M-Pesa platform which will see us invest in excess of TZS150 billion (USD80.8 million) to cater for the expected growth of users.'

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Update on IBTM Africa

ibtm africa, a highly targeted event,offering an exclusive opportunity for African and Indian Ocean exhibitors to connect and engage with toplevel international decision makers, has confirmed a strong lineup of international buyers with proven business to place. Suppliers from the continent will attend the show which is set to take place in Cape Town, South Africa (13-15 April, 2015). Top international meetings, events and incentive planners from large corporations and agencies included in the lineup of Hosted Buyers who have been qualified to participate include; BI Worldwide China (China), HelmsBriscoe (Turkey), Maesse Marketing Consultancy Ltd. (Germany), Blaycation (Canada), The Scienomics Group (U.S.), Inception Global Ltd. (UK), Haye Incentive Travel (Netherlands), Paragon Europe (Belgium), Speed Sailing International (UK), AstraZenace (Russian Federation) and Abbott (United Arab Emirates).

“The quality of our international buyers have proven business to place with exhibitors and those who are participating in ibtm africa 2015 will benefit from this opportunity so if there are pan African venues and services that are still wanting to join this MICE community for business, networking and learning, we welcome them, but they need to be quick!” said Shinu Pillai, Exhibition Manager for ibtm africa.

The value of being a Hosted Buyer is evident from those all ready to participate in this year’s event. Mark Stiles, Chief Vacation Officer, Blaycation, Canada commented, “It will be key to meet the local experts who can offer travel and incentive solutions for our business. I am hoping to meet a few like-minded travel partners that can act as my "go to" suppliers in Africa.”

Yakub Khan, Purchasing Manager, Gulf & Levant Region, Global Sourcing Global Purchasing Services, Dubai commented, “Attending ibtm africa is very important for our business as it allows us to understand the destination and what Africa has to offer us in terms of events, incentive meetings, hotels, site seeing, team building activities etc.”

ibtm africa, part of Africa Travel Week, will bring together up to 60 African and Indian Ocean suppliers including Hotels and Venues, National/ State Tourism Organisations and Convention Bureaux, Travel Management Companies, Destination Management Companies, and other MICE related suppliers for this exclusive showcase of their products to the same number of international Hosted Buyers.

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Microfinance institution to expand beyond tea sector

Greenland Fedha Limited (GFL), a microfinance institution for small-scale tea farmers in Kenya, has implemented a new software solution to improve its efficiency and remain competitive in the market. According to the institution, it had chosen the Microsoft Dynamics NAV platform.

With the system in place, GFL revealed that the system had not only automated its processes, but also enabled it to develop a mobile payment solution.

GFL is wholly owned by the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) Holdings and provides financial services to the tea sub sector in the country. According to GFL, the institution is unique in that it offers its loan recipients the option to apply for and repay their loans using green leaf as collateral, with specific formulas in place to work out the interest and repayment rate. The manual system it had in place, prior to the installation of the new system, was cumbersome to log loans, work out interest rates, manage inventory and run the business effectively. This made it challenging to compete with commercial banks and other microfinance lenders.

“We realised that to get ahead, we needed to use technology,” says GFL ICT Manager, Godfrey Waiharo. “We chose Microsoft Dynamics NAV because we could see Microsoft is trusted, well-known, offers a lot of aftersales support and most importantly has good relationships with its partners. This was the fastest implementation that we had ever seen with no down time at all.”

Most notably, GFL was able to build a mobile payment solution with the help of the latest system. “This has changed the way we operate because we are now able to get money to farmers regardless of whether they have a bank account or how remote their farms are – by simply paying the money directly into their mobile phones. It’s also now possible for our customers to access the system on the go and work out their qualifying loan amount and repayment installment,” explains Waiharo. The mobile solution has been such a success that GFL has developed a separate mobile sales unit.

Kunle Awosika, Country Manager, Microsoft Kenya says, “A recent study from the Boston Consulting Group states that SMEs that embrace technology can increase revenues 15 percentage points faster and create jobs almost twice as fast. SMEs like GFL are contributing to a growing economy across the world and especially an economy like Kenya, where their contribution adds about 40% to the GDP”.

According to Waiharo, “Thanks to GFL’s implementation of the latest system, the MFI sales volume has increased and its business processes have become more streamlined, flexible and efficient. The software’s scalability also means that GFL can progress with its future plans to build its versatile mobile banking platform that is can expand beyond the tea sector.

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Africa’s youngest entrepreneurs to win $75,000 by applying to 2015 Anzisha Prize

The 5th Anzisha Prize application phase is now open, and the search is on to find Africa’s youngest, most exciting social and business entrepreneurs under 22 years of age. Africa is the world’s youngest continent, with over 600m people under the age of 25. The Anzisha Prize is a growing social impact program entirely focused on accelerating the entry of millions of young Africans into viable and exciting entrepreneurship opportunities within high growth economic sectors.

The impact and success of the program to date has encouraged co-hosts African Leadership Academy and The MasterCard Foundation to extend their collaboration for a further 5 years. The Anzish Prize will be a feature of the entrepreneur landscape in Africa until 2020, and aggresively expand its activities to not only encourage young entrepreneurs, but strengthen and celebrate the ecosystem of organisations that develop young African entrepreneurial talent in this age group. They call it the #AnzishaEffect, and it is the power of stories about the very youngest entrepreneurs among us to encourage others to follow in their footsteps. Africa needs strong, innovative entrepreneurial young leaders to create jobs, solve problems and drive our economies.

Our continent’s future will be determined by entrepreneurial leaders across all sectors.

“We have already seen the #AnzishaEffect at work through the inspirational stories and leadership of Anzisha Fellows like Laetitia Mukungu, Andrew Mupuya and Thato Kgatlhanye. They are now globally recognized and celebrated role models,” says Reeta Roy, President and CEO of The MasterCard Foundation. “We’re excited about expanding our support of the Anzisha Prize so that many more young entrepreneurs in Africa can make a lasting impact in their communities and countries.”

Each year, 12 finalists win a two-week trip to South Africa for a learning experience of a lifetime at African Leadership Academy, and share over $75,000 USD in cash funding. At a Gala Dinner, the grand prize winner is announced and recieves $25,000 with which to grow their business. From 2015, Anzisha Fellows will be actively supported through the recently launched Youth Entrepreneur Support Unit (YES-U), based at African Leadership Academy, which is a collaboration with leading business incubators on the continent. Mentorship, consulting services, community gatherings and travel opportunities will now define the fellow experience as they grow their business ventures. New programs will be announced soon that focus on and invest into other areas of the youth entrepreneur value chain.

Applications close on April 15th, 2015, and nominations are encouraged. The Anzisha Prize is one of the most accessible and inclusive pan-African opportunities for youth from any background. Application forms and information are available in English, French, Portuguese and Arabic, and the Anzisha Prize Tour team will visit key hubs and engage local media in every region. There are also over 25 country partner organisations who are available to assist applicants in countries where the tour does not reach. Both paper and electronic applications are accepted.

“There are few programs with the reach and potential of the Anzisha Prize that are so focused on this age group,” comments Josh Adler, Director for the Centre for Entrepreneurial Leadership at African Leadership Academy, and Manager of the Anzisha program, “This year, we will see the various parts of the ecosystem we’ve been investing into since 2010 begin to really work together for the benefit of Africa’s youngest entrepreneurs, wherever they may be!”

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