The ceremony concluded the 7th Galien Forum Africa, which explored the theme: “Health and Community Action Under Climate and Environmental Crisis in Africa.”

Among the evening’s highlights, CyberRwanda stood out for its innovative approach to addressing the critical needs of Rwandan adolescents aged 12 to 19.

By offering accessible, culturally relevant resources in both English and Kinyarwanda, CyberRwanda has empowered over 25,000 young people and is on track to reach 100,000 by the end of 2024.

Its holistic approach tackles key challenges, including teenage pregnancy, HIV prevention, and mental health support, demonstrating how technology can be a powerful tool for social change.

During the award ceremony, the judges praised CyberRwanda for its thoughtful design and measurable impact, highlighting its role in addressing the urgent health and social needs of Rwandan adolescents.
As part of the award, CyberRwanda received FCFA 20,000,000 (USD 30,000) to further its mission of empowering Rwandan youth and fostering resilience through technology.

CyberRwanda stood out for its innovative approach to addressing the critical needs of Rwandan adolescents aged 12 to 19.

Mireille Umutoni Sekamana, Design Research Lead at YLabs, attributed CyberRwanda’s success to its youth-centered design approach. She highlighted how engaging young people in every stage of development ensured the platform met their needs effectively.

“From structuring information to creating features like the advice column, the platform keeps improving because young people shape every feature, making it a trusted space for their concerns," she said.

Moving forward, Umutoni envisions CyberRwanda expanding to include topics like mental health and scaling globally to become a worldwide service, accessible to young people wherever they are.

In his address, President Faye emphasized the transformative power of such initiatives, noting that the Prix Galien Africa is not just a recognition but a call to action.

He applauded CyberRwanda and its creators for their dedication to empowering young people and leveraging technology to address pressing health challenges.

The platform offers accessible, culturally relevant resources in both English and Kinyarwanda

The event also honored Morocco’s MASCIR SARS-CoV-2 PCR Kit 2.0, winner of the Best Medical Technology award. Developed by Professor Hassan Semour, the kit has advanced Africa’s diagnostic capabilities in the fight against COVID-19.

These two innovations—CyberRwanda and the MASCIR SARS-CoV-2 PCR Kit 2.0—highlight a future where technology and creativity work hand in hand to overcome obstacles and create meaningful change for communities across Africa.

Its holistic approach tackles key challenges, including teenage pregnancy, HIV prevention, and mental health support, demonstrating how technology can be a powerful tool for social change.

CyberRwanda is a youth-focused digital platform developed by YLabs

CyberRwanda was praised for its thoughtful design and measurable impact.