The Mastercard Foundation and the University of Rwanda have launched a 10-year $55.5 million partnership, awarding scholarships to the first cohort of 75 students.
The Country Representative of Mastercard Foundation, Rica Rwigamba revealed this in an interview with the Press at the launching ceremony that took place at Kigali Marriott Hotel, Rwanda.
“This partnership starts from 2021 to 2031 and it will benefit 1,200 students.
“The partnership gives disadvantaged youth access to higher education, the target being women pursuing STEM, students with disabilities, and refugees or displaced youth. The goal is to raise Africa’s next generation of transformative leaders,” she said.
Rica Rwigamba, the country representative of MasterCard Foundation, speaks at the ceremony to award 75 University of Rwanda students with scholarships.
The programme was created to include participants from different walks of life with 70 per cent of the students expected to be young women, 20 per cent must be refugees and 10 per cent must be students with disabilities.
Rwigamba noted that the selection criteria for the programme were centred around talented young people who had performed well at high school, came from poor families, and had leadership abilities.
“The scholarship programme is 10 years old where we partnered with different universities, 40,000 scholarships have been provided so far in countries where the Mastercard Foundation operates. By 2030, the goal is to have supported over 100,000 students in Rwanda and beyond.
Rica Rwigamba, the country representative of MasterCard Foundation (right), and Didas Muganga Kayihura, the UR acting Vice Chancellor, hand a laptop to one of the beneficiaries.
“We pay tuition fees and a monthly stipend for the students, but also look at their wellbeing. This includes psychosocial support and leadership training. We will also be looking at e-learning in four UR campuses and digitizing some of their programmes,” she explained further.
The first cohort of 75 students who were awarded scholarships in a group photo with officials at Kigali Marriott Hotel on Saturday, October 29.
Only 75 people out of 2,000 applicants succeeded in getting the MasterCard scholarships. The Mastercard Foundation is also training participants on aspects that include saving and embracing the mindset to do business so they become valuable entrepreneurs.
