iAccelerator

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Relive moments from yesterday’s #iAccelerator7 Top 30 Pitching Session, where young innovators pitched their solutions tackling challenges in #ASRH and #MentalHealth before a panel of judges. Stay tuned to see what’s next on the #iAccelerator7 journey and the innovations that will win the competition.

Congratulations to the 15 outstanding innovators selected during yesterday’s Pitching Session. We wish you the very best as you advance to the Final Pitching stage of the #iAccelerator7 journey. 🏆 Winners in #ASRH: • Jehovanis Manirakomeye – Ingabo Hope • Evode Kwizera – INTAMBWE Pads • Doreen Safari Uwase – IJWILINK • Kenza Coulibaly & Egbunike Ngozi Theodora – Swift Haven Africa • Christian Karenzi & Theophile Tuyishime – Ibanga • Roméo Bananeza – RM Ubuzima • Divin Byiringiro – Mama Link • Noella Lidvine Isingizwe – Utunyange Voices Podcast • Evidence Sanelisiwe Khumalo – No Filter Platform • Esther Niyonkuru – Umurinzi AI Health Assistant 🏆 Winners in #MentalHealth: • Djuma Itangishaka – TUZA Smart Bracelet • Alain Nshimiyimana – Steps Initiative • Patrick Niyitanga – Inshuti Connect • Miriam Nsekonzinza – ARAME Digital SRHR Signage Initiative • Grace Christelle Ishimwe – Pulse 360 #iAccelerator7

A big thank you to all the innovators participating in #iAccelerator7 for the inspiring ideas and impactful pitches. A special appreciation as well to our judges for facilitating today’s session. We now await the deliberation results as they review the 30 projects presented to select the top 15 advancing to the next phase. Meet the #iAccelerator7 Judges Panel (R-L): 1. Furaha Siraji from @unfpa_rwanda 2. Dr. Ikuzo Basile from @RBCRwanda 3. Mahoro Hallelujah from @HDIRwanda 4. Damien Niyonsaba from @SolidMindsRw 5. Révérien Mutangana from @AFRwanda

Musabyimana Marie Lividine and team presented Smart Youth Health Connect, a youth-centered digital and community solution improving access to sexual and reproductive health information and services, especially for underserved youth and those with disabilities. It uses the YUVITA app and WhatsApp chatbot to provide confidential health education, menstrual tracking, HIV prevention information, and referrals, supported by youth champions and mobile outreach to reach schools and communities directly. #iAccelerator7

“Agasakoshi k’Ubuzima,” presented by Antipas Irasubiza and team, is a youth-friendly school-based health and hygiene support bag that provides menstrual products, hygiene materials, and SRH education for students. It also includes a QR code linking to digital SRH information, offering a private and practical learning tool that supports dignity, privacy, and better health knowledge in schools. #iAccelerator7

Sano Kizito Jean presented his project, Mensis Care, a mobile health app designed to support reproductive health through a private, evidence-based digital platform. It features a Kinyarwanda-first menstrual tracker that helps users understand fertility and health patterns, reducing the risk of unplanned pregnancies. The app also includes a privacy-focused AI assistant that provides anonymous answers to sensitive reproductive health questions. Its content is developed by University of Rwanda medical students and aligned with Ministry of Health protocols to ensure accurate and reliable guidance.

Lady’s Essence is a digital health platform that supports women and families from adolescence through motherhood. Developed by Desiré Bikorimana, it offers services such as menstrual tracking, pregnancy guidance, antenatal reminders, newborn vaccination scheduling, and confidential telehealth consultations. It also includes a parental dashboard for tracking multiple family members’ health and USSD access for basic phones, ensuring inclusivity for rural communities and persons with disabilities. #iAccelerator7

INTAMBWE Pads developed by Fabrice Habonimana and team, is a youth-led initiative that produces affordable, biodegradable sanitary pads from banana pseudostem waste. It aims to reduce menstrual poverty by providing safe and accessible menstrual products for girls and young women, especially those from low-income backgrounds. The project also promotes environmental sustainability by recycling agricultural waste and creating eco-friendly hygiene products. In addition, it supports youth employment while offering a dignified and sustainable solution to menstrual health challenges. #iAccelerator7

Africa Health Connect & TeleMedAfrica, initiated by Iradukunda Daniel and team, is a youth-focused digital health solution in pilot phase built on the BAHO telemedicine ecosystem. It improves access to confidential mental health and SRH services for young people. The platform uses web and mobile apps, USSD, chatbots, call centers, video consultations, and community health workers to ensure accessible care and reliable health information regardless of location or internet access. #iAccelerator7

SafeCircle, initiated by Valens Iradukunda and team , is an anonymous digital platform (web, mobile, and USSD) that supports Rwandan teens with sexual and reproductive health, menstrual health, and mental health education and support without requiring personal identification. It provides features such as anonymous questions, expert sessions, moderated discussions, learning courses, a mental health diary, scenario-based learning, cycle tracking, and links to youth services, with USSD and audio options to ensure accessibility in Kinyarwanda and English.

HopeCore Hub, initiated by Jehovanis Manirakomeye and team, is a mobile and web platform that supports Rwandan youth facing mental health challenges, particularly those related to gender-based violence. It provides confidential, 24/7 multilingual support through Mahoro AI, where users can talk freely, receive guidance, and get emotional support. The platform also includes a survivor forum for anonymous peer sharing to reduce stigma and isolation, and connects users needing in-person care to services through the Isange Map and referral systems such as Humura and other partner support services. #iAccelerator7

NTUSIGARE (“Don’t be left behind”), initiated by Gihozo Merveille, is a voice-first USSD hotline that provides youth, including persons with disabilities, access to HIV prevention, mental health support, and menstrual health services without needing internet or smartphones. Users select services through a Kinyarwanda voice menu and share only their village for privacy. Requests such as HIV self-test kits, counseling, or menstrual pads are delivered within 48 hours, with accessible options like voice, SMS, and doorstep delivery ensuring inclusive and stigma-free access. #iAccelerator7

UBUZIMA BWIZA Connect (UBC), initiated by Patrick Ugiririmbabazi and team, is an integrated mental health screening and support program embedded in HIV and SRH services across three district hospitals. It supports adolescents and young people living with HIV (ALHIV) and orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). The program uses WHO mhGAP, PHQ-9, and GAD-7 tools to screen patients during routine visits, with results recorded in an electronic system that enables referrals when needed. It also includes peer support sessions and tracks mental health, viral suppression, and SRH outcomes. #iAccelerator7

Swift Haven Africa, developed by Egbunike Theodora Ngozi and team, is a proposed menstrual health system designed to provide consistent, stigma-free access to sanitary pads for secondary school girls in Rwanda. It will use an RFID card system for private pad collection through smart dispensers in schools, and a real-time impact dashboard for schools, NGOs, and partners to monitor usage and track distribution, improving transparency and accountability in menstrual health support. #iAccelerator7

STEPS Awareness, led by Alain Nshimiyimana, is a community and youth-focused initiative aimed at breaking stigma around mental health and substance use disorders while promoting a culture of seeking help instead of judgment. It targets adolescents and the wider community through awareness and education. The initiative uses media partnerships with ISHUSHO TV, RBA, and ISHYA to air monthly TV shows, delivering 46 episodes in 2025. It also runs NITWEBIREBA drug abuse awareness clubs in 35 high schools and at the IWAWA Rehabilitation Center, alongside 56 community awareness events to strengthen outreach and education. #iAccelerator7

MunaCare, developed by Niyigena Marie Claire and team, is an early-stage (prototype) solution designed to improve menstrual health accessibility for visually impaired users and people with low literacy in Rwanda. It features an inclusive menstrual hygiene kit with Braille labeling and tactile indicators, alongside a planned USSD-based voice system that delivers menstrual health education in Kinyarwanda. The project has not yet been launched commercially and is currently preparing a minimum viable product (MVP) for pilot testing with 10–30 users in collaboration with schools and disability organizations in Rwanda.

Inshuti Connect, developed by Niyitanga Patrick, is an anonymous mobile app and hotline that connects young people to trusted mental health and SRH information from supervised medical and mental health students. It offers confidential guidance, basic support, and referrals without providing diagnosis or treatment. The platform also serves as a learning space for students, exposing them to real youth concerns under supervision. By combining anonymity, near-peer support, and training, it improves access to care while strengthening practical medical education. #iAccelerator7

Mama-Link, developed by Divin Byiringiro, is a platform that helps rural adolescent girls in Rwanda access reproductive health rights, reliable SRH and HIV prevention information, and safe menstrual products, addressing gaps between legal rights and real access. It works via USSD, SMS, and a smartphone app, allowing girls to privately access information in Kinyarwanda and order vetted reusable menstrual pads even without internet or smartphones.

Utunyange Voices, founded by Uwabyeyi Lidivine and team is an inclusive podcast initiative that raises awareness about sexual and reproductive health, menstrual health, and HIV prevention through expert discussions and real-life experiences. Using digital platforms and accessible tools such as subtitles, screen readers, and bulk SMS, the initiative promotes open conversations, reduces stigma, and expands access to reliable health information for diverse communities. #iAccelerator7