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Christelle Kwizera (born in 1994) is a Rwandan mechanical engineer, social entrepreneur, and activist. She is the founder of Water Access Rwanda, a social enterprise addressing the lack of access to clean water in Sub-Saharan Africa. Her work has provided clean water to hundreds of thousands of people while creating jobs for young individuals in local communities[1][2].
Biography
Early Life and Education
Christelle Kwizera was born and raised in Rwanda. Passionate about science and innovation, she earned a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Rwanda. From a young age, she became aware of the challenges related to access to clean water, a major issue for rural and urban populations in Sub-Saharan Africa[1][3].
Career
In 2014, at the age of 20, Christelle founded Water Access Rwanda, with the mission of providing affordable and accessible clean water to everyone[4]. The organization implements innovative solutions, including water kiosks equipped with solar-powered pumps and filtration systems, which supply clean water daily to nearly 90,000 people. By 2024, the enterprise had expanded its impact to over 210,000 people, as well as schools, businesses, and farms, not only in Rwanda but also in neighboring countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Uganda[5][6].
The model of Water Access Rwanda is based on autonomous and sustainable mini water points that reduce costs for consumers while ensuring high-quality water[7]. The initiative is gradually expanding to other African countries, with the ambition to solve the water scarcity problem across the continent[6][8].
Awards and Recognition
Christelle Kwizera has received numerous awards and accolades for her exceptional work:
- 2019: Winner of the "Female Entrepreneur of the Year" award at the Impact2 forum in Paris[9].
- 2019: Third prize at the inaugural Africa Business Heroes Awards, organized by the Jack Ma Foundation, with a reward of $100,000[10].
- 2020: Global Citizen Prize: Cisco Youth Leadership Award, recognizing young leaders making significant impacts in their communities[11].
- 2020: Featured in the book "Vital Voices: 100 Women Using Their Power to Empower", alongside global figures such as Hillary Clinton and Christine Lagarde, recognizing her positive influence and commitment to women's empowerment[12].
Advocacy and Impact
In addition to leading Water Access Rwanda, Christelle Kwizera is an active advocate nationally and internationally. She participates in conferences and events to promote sustainable solutions to the water crisis, social entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment in Africa[5].
Under her leadership, Water Access Rwanda has become a model for social enterprises, offering sustainable solutions to environmental and socio-economic challenges. The organization contributes directly to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and Goal 13 (Climate Action)[4][6].
She is also a passionate advocate for youth empowerment, emphasizing the importance of engaging young people in creating innovative and sustainable solutions for global challenges[8].
Legacy and Vision
Christelle Kwizera envisions expanding her initiatives across Sub-Saharan Africa, with the ambitious goal of ensuring access to clean water for the entire continent. She continues to work towards a world where clean water is accessible to everyone, while advocating for sustainable and equitable development[8].
References
edit- ^ a b "Afrique Hebdo - Christelle Kwizera, l'entrepreneure qui fait couler l'eau potable au Rwanda". France 24 (in French). 2022-03-28. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
- ^ "Safe Water | Water Products | Boreholes". Water Access Rwanda. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
- ^ AFRIK 21 (2020-07-06). "RWANDA : des kiosques pour fournir de l'eau potable dans 30 districts d'ici 2022". Afrik 21 (in French). Retrieved 2024-12-05.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b "Christelle Kwizera nommée entrepreneuse de l'année". www.paris.fr (in French). Retrieved 2024-12-05.
- ^ a b "Christelle Kwizera". Vital Voices. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
- ^ a b c "Rwanda's Christelle Kwizera Wins 2020 Global Citizen Prize: Cisco Youth Leadership Award". Global Citizen. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
- ^ "Home". The Africa Business Index (in French). Retrieved 2024-12-05.
- ^ a b c Heroes, Africa's Business. "Africa's Business Heroes". Africa's Business Heroes. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
{{cite web}}:|first=has generic name (help) - ^ "Christelle Kwizera nommée entrepreneuse de l'année". www.paris.fr (in French). Retrieved 2024-12-05.
- ^ Askan-CM (2021-01-20). "Christelle Kwizera, l'entrepreneure qui fait couler l'eau potable au Rwanda !". Askan (in French). Retrieved 2024-12-05.
- ^ "Christelle Kwizera remporte le Global Citizen Prize: Cisco Youth Leadership Award 2020". Global Citizen (in French). Retrieved 2024-12-05.
- ^ "Vital Voices: 100 Women Using their Power to Empower". Vital Voices. Retrieved 2024-12-05.