On 10^th November 2022, IPRC Karongi students exhibited their innovations during the World Science Day 2022 Celebration Event, which took place at Ecole des Sciences Saint Louis Montfort Nyanza in Nyanza District, celebrated under the theme “Science for Peace and Sustainable Development, Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development”.

The event was marked by Exhibitions, Public Talks and key messages focusing on the importance and benefits of Basic Sciences and their applications to the well-being of society in this daily changing world.

Esther Ishimwe, our Year 3 student in Electrical Technology program showcased her innovative project entitled “Smart Blind Shoe”. Speaking to the media during the World Science Day Celebration Event, Esther explained how her project works.

“My innovation project is a smart wearable shoe designed to help the visually impaired people by providing them with directional information, smart and sensible navigation guidance to move more independently, and include them in the modern world while feeling cared for and loved,” said Esther.

She added, “The shoe is capable of detecting obstacles around up to three meters away and warns the wearer through vibration, buzzler or acoustic feedback provided via headphones telling the user as he/she gets closer to the obstacle.”

In addition to the Smart Blind Shoe by Esther, our student in Production and Manufacturing Technology, David Tuyishime also exhibited his solar powered automatic irrigation system known as “Smart Uhira System” innovative project. The latter is controlled by an application installed in a mobile phone, and it is environment friendly, because it does not need neither fuel nor electricity as source of energy rather it is powered by solar panel.

David explained more about the system functionality and the solution it brings to the community. He said “To activate and deactivate the system as well as to know all notification about the system, we only use a mobile phone app. Sunny climate is normally a threat to most of farmers but for us, it’s a solution as source of power to our Smart Uhira system.”

“Smart Uhira System is a solution to Rwandan farmers because it will enable them to cultivate non-stop even during the summer period, reduce the workforces they needed while irrigating crops as the system uses only one operator with modern materials,” added David.

David has Denyse Igiraneza as a co-innovator of Smart Uhira System. This innovation also won the first award worth 1,500,000 FRW at the college level during the projects pitching that took place on 9^th November 2022 in the 3^rd edition of TVET Youth Challenge Competition organized by the Ministry of Youth and Culture.

The World Science Day 2022 Celebration event was a good platform for the youth to reaffirm their capabilities and commitment to finding solutions to challenges facing the community, which in return leads to reducing unemployment rate through jobs creation.