NAIROBI, Kenya- At the YouthConnekt Africa Summit 2024 in Kigali, young African innovators showcased groundbreaking solutions that tackle two critical challenges facing the continent: climate resilience and sexual and reproductive health (SRHR).
This year’s summit celebrated these youthful changemakers, whose ideas demonstrated the power of innovation for a healthier, more sustainable future.
The event, organized in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), spotlighted two winning projects, each awarded $10,000 to scale their impact and transform communities across Africa.
At the heart of UNFPA’s HackLab 2024, held in conjunction with the summit, were two winning projects addressing climate action and SRHR, led by innovators Marta Vânia Uetela of Mozambique and Kenya’s Gabriel Mwaingo.
Their projects epitomized ingenuity, scalability, and the promise of a brighter future for Africa.
Marta’s initiative tackles plastic pollution and lack of mobility in remote areas by transforming discarded fishing nets and plastic waste into bicycles.
These eco-friendly bikes enable women and girls to access essential services, from healthcare to SRHR resources, while also contributing to environmental protection.
This dual impact of advancing mobility and reducing plastic waste underscores the innovation’s potential to empower women and girls across Africa.
Meanwhile, Gabriel’s project leverages discarded plastics to produce 3D printing filaments, with applications in creating educational and healthcare materials.
His innovation aims to not only recycle waste sustainably but also make vital SRHR resources more accessible to youth across the continent.
As HackLab champions, Marta and Gabriel were each awarded $10,000, mentorship, and entry to a global network of partners committed to scaling impactful projects.
Bernis Byamukama, Private Sector Advisor at the African Development Bank Group, praised HackLab as a “melting pot of creativity and ingenuity,” highlighting its impact on youth-led problem-solving.
UNFPA Rwanda’s Country Representative, Dr. Olugbemiga Adelakin, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the link between climate change and SRHR.
“The intersection of climate change and SRHR is both a challenge and a vital opportunity for change,” he noted.
Beyond the HackLab, the summit tackled pressing topics in youth health and well-being, featuring a session themed “Thrive Together: Elevating Youth Health and Well-being for a Brighter Africa.”
Throughout the summit, UNFPA, alongside Rwanda Biomedical Centre and Health Development Initiative, offered SRHR services like HIV testing, sanitary pads, and condoms to summit attendees, reaching over 165 young people.
