TICO hosted a delegation from the European Union to Rwanda, led by Dr. Uwe Wissenbach, Deputy Head of Delegation of the European Union, at the TICO offices for a courtesy and strategic engagement visit.
During the meeting, TICO presented its impactful youth empowerment initiatives, with a particular focus on the Entrepreneurial Design Fellowship (EDF). Discussions also highlighted TICO’s upcoming flagship event, the Career Kick Start Forum & EDF Fellows Awards and Exchange, scheduled to take place from September 8–10, 2025, in Kigali.
The three-day event is expected to convene over 200 participants, including youth entrepreneurs, EDF Cohort 3 Fellows, EDF alumni, youth leaders, government institutions, private sector representatives, development partners, and civil society organizations. The forum aims to promote innovation, career readiness, and entrepreneurship among young people while fostering cross-sector collaboration.
In addition, TICO shared its work in promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and mental wellbeing among youth through IKIREZI Chatbot, an AI-powered digital solution developed since last year. The chatbot provides life-saving information on SRHR, Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and Mental Health, and directly connects users to trusted institutions and service providers for timely support.
Dr. Uwe Wissenbach acknowledged TICO’s innovative approach and encouraged the continued promotion of the IKIREZI Chatbot as a critical tool to support youth wellbeing. He reaffirmed the European Union’s openness to supporting youth-led innovations that contribute to inclusive development and improved access to essential services.
TICO expressed its appreciation for the engagement and emphasized its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the EU Delegation to Rwanda. The organization looks forward to exploring future partnership opportunities and continuing to advance youth empowerment and wellbeing initiatives across Rwanda.