A wave of youthful energy swept through Kigali on June 21, 2025, as the Festival of Sport – Rotary Edition unfolded at the International School of Kigali. It was a powerful, youth-led campaign to raise vital support for cancer patients in Rwanda.
The Festival was proudly organized by Wura Holdings Ltd, led by a committed Rotarian, on behalf of the Rotary Club of Kigali Virunga, in collaboration with Rotary Sport and the Rotary Club of Kigali Golf.
More than 80% of the event’s organizing team was made up of young people from various Interact and Rotaract clubs across the country, whose passion and commitment transformed an ambitious idea into a reality with lasting impact.
They included university students from the African Leadership University (ALU), one of the the leading event sponsors, and the University of Lay Adventists of Kigali (UNILAK)
The primary goal of the festival was to raise funds for an electric minivan to serve patients at Bethania Home Care, a facility based in Kinyinya that accommodates over 250 cancer patients.
These patients regularly travel more than 30 kilometers to Kanombe Military Hospital for treatment, a journey made all the more difficult due to the lack of reliable transportation.
The electric van, once procured, is expected to ease this burden and help save lives by ensuring patients receive their care on time and with dignity.
Behind the scenes, was a powered the vision with intense mobilization by Rwanda’s youth comprising of young Rotaractors and Interactors who played a pivotal role.
Yvanelle Munyaneza, a member of the Rotaract Club of SFB, was among the leading figures in the coordination team. She described the project as more than just an event, it was a mission to bring sustainable change.
“The idea came from a need we couldn’t ignore. The Rotary House for Cancer Patients has been operating for three years now with support from grants and donations. But patients were still finding it hard to reach treatment centers. We knew we could do something,” Yvanelle explained.
The festival itself was a colorful mix of sporting competitions such as football and basketball to fencing and pickle ball, tennis, all driven by a larger purpose.
In addition to athletic contests, attendees were encouraged to donate, participate in raffles, and learn more about how they could support cancer care in Rwanda.
One lucky rotaractor, Nisha Urusaro Muganga from the Rotaract Club of SFB, even walked away with a return air ticket to an East African destination of her choice, courtesy of Satguru, one of the event sponsors.
Rotarian PADG Masterjerb Paul Birungi from Rotary Club of Kigali Virunga won a treadmill worth 2M via Fitnesspoint, a modern health club and retreat, one of the events other generous sponsor.
Among the many supporters of the initiative was Dr. Tunde Adelakun, President of Rotary Sport in the UK. His presence underscored the importance of aligning youth development and community service through sport.
He addressed the participants with passion, highlighting how sports can shape healthier communities and future leaders.
“Through our sporting projects, we’re raising awareness of mental health, lifestyle choices, eating well, and reducing the risks of debilitating diseases like cancer. “It goes back to healthy living and doing good in the community.” Tunde said.
“Sports are unique because they teach us rules. If from a very young age, our children understand that rules guide sports, that there are offside lines, fouls, boundaries, then they will grow up respecting structure and responsibility. That’s how leaders are built,” he added.
Tunde pledged that Rotary Sport would continue focusing its fundraising efforts on sporting initiatives that create meaningful impact, pointing to Kigali’s festival as a model for service-driven engagement.
Onyekachi Ugwu, a Nigerian student from the African Leadership University and a key voice in the early planning stages, also shared how the idea began organically among students who loved sports and were moved by the plight of cancer patients.
“We thought, why not align our love for sport with our desire to help? This was never just about playing games. It was about creating a solution. Kigali is a city that appreciates sport, and we believed it could also appreciate this cause,” Onyekachi recalled.
For the youth, collective efforts had not only raised significant support for a critical cause but also demonstrated the power of young people working together in service to others.
Their energy, commitment, and vision transformed a sports event into a beacon of hope, and showed that the future of community leadership in Rwanda is in passionate, capable hands.
