Latest news with #UniversityofRwanda
The Star
21-04-2025
- General
- The Star
UN Chinese Language Day marked in Rwanda
KIGALI, April 21(Xinhua) -- The Confucius Institute at the University of Rwanda held celebrations on Sunday afternoon to mark this year's United Nations Chinese Language Day. The event, under the theme "Chinese Language: A Gift Across Time and Space," offered attendees an immersive experience of Chinese culture and language. Speaking at the event, Lin Hang, charge d'affaires a.i. of the Chinese Embassy in Rwanda, said that as an official language of the United Nations, the Chinese language is an important bond of friendship between the Chinese people and the people around the world. "Language is a crucial tool of communication for human beings. As you may be aware, Chinese is the only 'living language' among the world's ancient civilizations that is still in use today. At present, more than 190 countries and regions around the world are teaching Chinese, and 85 countries have incorporated Chinese into their national education systems," she said. "China puts the spirit of real multilateralism into good practice, embraces an open and inclusive mindset, enhances mutual appreciation and learning, deepens understanding and friendship between the peoples across borders and among civilizations," she added. Zeng Guangyu, director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Rwanda, told Xinhua during the event that when the institute was established in 2009, only a handful of students enrolled, as many thought it was too difficult to learn. However, nearly 20,000 Rwandans can now speak Chinese after years of sustained efforts. He noted that Chinese language skills have opened doors for Rwandan learners, enabling them to secure jobs, win scholarships, study in China, and even start businesses. "I have seen Chinese learners achieve their dreams through the language -- by creating enterprises or finding good jobs. They are truly changing their lives through learning Chinese. English is used worldwide, but Chinese is a rising language in East Africa and across the globe. It represents the future," Zeng said. He also highlighted that this year's celebrations also featured the launch of a Kiswahili-Chinese-English textbook, aimed at bridging Chinese with two of East Africa's most commonly spoken languages. "We held a lecture on Chinese characters, organized workshops on Chinese writing and calligraphy, and conducted many activities across different teaching posts to mark the occasion," Zeng added.
CNN
14-03-2025
- Business
- CNN
This Rwandan entrepreneur turns discarded tires into fashionable footwear
Every year, about one billion tires around the world reach the end of their life according to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. Many of them end up piled in landfills posing potential health and environmental risks. In Africa, one Rwandan entrepreneur has found a way to upcycle the rubber to create fashionable footwear. While studying creative design at the University of Rwanda, Kevine Kagirimpundu felt she had limited employment options, so she took matters into her own hands. She began researching how to make her own products and stumbled upon the idea of using old tires for shoe soles. In 2013, she and her friend Ysolde Shimwe officially launched Uzuri K&Y, a name incorporating the founders' initials and a Swahili word meaning beauty and goodness. The eco-friendly shoe brand offers a range of handcrafted sandals for men, women and children. 'We wanted to be different but also be part of the problem-solving process because Rwanda at the time was banning plastic bags, which was such a huge inspiration for us. So, we thought how do we play a part in that and how do we contribute?' Kagirimpundu said. 'We thought this creates something that would become a source of income for ourselves but also for other young people like us.' In 2008, the government banned the manufacturing, importation and use of plastic polyethylene bags, and took a step further in 2019 by prohibiting single-use plastics, like straws, bottles, and containers. As CEO and managing director, Kagirimpundu says the brand's mission aligns with Rwanda's efforts to cut back on waste. The company buys tires from local landfills and makes the sandals in its Kigali production facility. When running at full capacity, Kagirimpundu says it can produce more than 4,500 pairs of sandals a month, which it sells online and in several stores across Rwanda and Nairobi, Kenya. A report from the Rwanda Environment Management Authority found the country discarded more than 5,000 tons of tires in 2022. Kagirimpundu said to date Uzuri K&Y has removed 10 metric tons of rubber from landfills in Rwanda. Still, the CEO believes the company's human impact is just as important as the environmental aspect: 'We had to create a business that actually became a source of employment for women,' she said. Reflecting on the company's humble beginnings, Kagirimpundu said one of the biggest challenges was a lack of skilled labor. 'Nobody knew how to make shoes,' she said, so she decided to set up a training program to teach locals the skills they need to become artisans and entrepreneurs. Kagirimpundu says 1,500 young people have gone through the program, about 70% of them women. She added that it's 'priceless' to give a woman a steady income when Rwanda has an unemployment rate of 13%, 14.5% for women. 'It's the whole collective of women working together to create something big, something important,' she said.
CNN
14-03-2025
- Business
- CNN
This Rwandan entrepreneur turns discarded tires into fashionable footwear
Every year, about one billion tires around the world reach the end of their life according to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. Many of them end up piled in landfills posing potential health and environmental risks. In Africa, one Rwandan entrepreneur has found a way to upcycle the rubber to create fashionable footwear. While studying creative design at the University of Rwanda, Kevine Kagirimpundu felt she had limited employment options, so she took matters into her own hands. She began researching how to make her own products and stumbled upon the idea of using old tires for shoe soles. In 2013, she and her friend Ysolde Shimwe officially launched Uzuri K&Y, a name incorporating the founders' initials and a Swahili word meaning beauty and goodness. The eco-friendly shoe brand offers a range of handcrafted sandals for men, women and children. 'We wanted to be different but also be part of the problem-solving process because Rwanda at the time was banning plastic bags, which was such a huge inspiration for us. So, we thought how do we play a part in that and how do we contribute?' Kagirimpundu said. 'We thought this creates something that would become a source of income for ourselves but also for other young people like us.' In 2008, the government banned the manufacturing, importation and use of plastic polyethylene bags, and took a step further in 2019 by prohibiting single-use plastics, like straws, bottles, and containers. As CEO and managing director, Kagirimpundu says the brand's mission aligns with Rwanda's efforts to cut back on waste. The company buys tires from local landfills and makes the sandals in its Kigali production facility. When running at full capacity, Kagirimpundu says it can produce more than 4,500 pairs of sandals a month, which it sells online and in several stores across Rwanda and Nairobi, Kenya. A report from the Rwanda Environment Management Authority found the country discarded more than 5,000 tons of tires in 2022. Kagirimpundu said to date Uzuri K&Y has removed 10 metric tons of rubber from landfills in Rwanda. Still, the CEO believes the company's human impact is just as important as the environmental aspect: 'We had to create a business that actually became a source of employment for women,' she said. Reflecting on the company's humble beginnings, Kagirimpundu said one of the biggest challenges was a lack of skilled labor. 'Nobody knew how to make shoes,' she said, so she decided to set up a training program to teach locals the skills they need to become artisans and entrepreneurs. Kagirimpundu says 1,500 young people have gone through the program, about 70% of them women. She added that it's 'priceless' to give a woman a steady income when Rwanda has an unemployment rate of 13%, 14.5% for women. 'It's the whole collective of women working together to create something big, something important,' she said.
