Ugandan Innovator Wins €15,000 for Eco-Friendly Threads in EAC Hackathon
Hellena Munyesa, founder of Helton Traders Limited, won €15,000 (Shs57 million) for her eco-friendly innovation of making sewing threads from recycled plastic bottles at the EAC Youth and Women Hackathon in Nairobi.
Hellena Munyesa, founder of Helton Traders Limited, is transforming the sewing industry by creating eco-friendly threads from recycled plastic bottles. Her innovative project earned her €15,000 (approximately Shs57 million) during the Youth and Women Hackathon held in Nairobi, Kenya, as part of the 7th Annual Secretary General’s Forum.
The forum, themed “Towards a Resilient and Fully Integrated East Africa: Harnessing Opportunities in the Borderless Community,” tackled regional challenges while exploring opportunities for collective growth. It provided a platform for citizens to engage in policymaking and collaborate on strategies for integration.
The event attracted over 1,000 innovative solutions in areas such as tourism, agribusiness, environmental protection, trade, digitalisation, and financial services. Eight winners, including Munyesa, received €15,000 each, with four projects led by women and four by youth.
During the main plenary session on December 11, participants presented their projects to a jury that included EAC Secretary General Hon. Veronica Nduva, ministers, and representatives from civil society and the private sector. A lively Q&A session followed each presentation, fostering collaboration and offering valuable feedback.
Veronica Nduva commended the hackathon as a testament to the East African Community’s (EAC) commitment to innovation and inclusivity. “This event is about collaboration, growth, and harnessing the collective intelligence of women and youth to address pressing challenges,” she said.
Uganda’s 1st Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Rebecca Kadaga, highlighted the importance of supporting youth and women-led initiatives. “By empowering innovators, we are building a more inclusive and prosperous East Africa,” she noted.
Rwanda’s Gen. James Kabarebe emphasised the hackathon’s role in driving regional collaboration and innovation, while Kenya’s Hon. Abdi Dubat appreciated the discussions for highlighting challenges and opportunities within the region.
The hackathon was part of the EAC-GIZ LIFTED project, co-financed by the European Union and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). GIZ’s Marius Weist praised participants for their creativity and commitment, saying, “By equipping women and youth with tools and support, we foster a more inclusive economy.”
Key recommendations from the forum included removing barriers to the free movement of goods and people, enhancing training for SMEs, prioritising small-scale farmers in green initiatives, and expanding digital infrastructure in rural areas.
Other winners included:
- Niyonkuru Kevin (SPOTA Company, Burundi)
- Cirhuza Birhaheka Onesphore (AGRIMOD SARL, DR Congo)
- Tayba Hatiym (BAUS Taka Enterprise, Kenya)
- Pacifique Niyorurema (Fresco Fruits, Rwanda)
- Mohamed Osman Abdulkadir (Greenlife Agribusiness LTD, Somalia)
- Anok Athor Deng (Future of Family Planning, South Sudan)
- Faith Kuya (SafeSip Limited, Tanzania)
