Singapore — A team of students from Makerere University has emerged victorious in the prestigious 2025 CIEE UNHCR Student Challenge, held at the 13th Annual Global Internship Conference (GIC) in Singapore.
The student-led competition, organised in partnership with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), spotlighted innovative ideas to expand education and livelihood opportunities for forcibly displaced youth around the world.
The Makerere team—Shalom Nyirimana Ishimwe, Sasha Achola, and Akankunda Rhinah (who also serves as the 91st Minister for Information, Research and Technology at Makerere)—competed under the team name “The Unstoppables”, representing Uganda and Rwanda. Their compelling and solution-driven presentation impressed judges and attendees alike, earning them top honours among an elite group of global finalists.
Held under the theme “Leading Change in Global Internships,” the 2025 Global Internship Conference brought together students, educators, and workforce leaders to explore how experiential learning can drive inclusive and transformative global change. The final session of the conference featured the UNHCR Student Challenge, now in its third year, as a showcase of the bold ideas emerging from young global citizens.
The Makerere team’s winning proposal focused on practical strategies to bridge gaps in access to education and job opportunities for refugee youth—an issue that continues to impact millions across the continent. Their approach combined technology, community engagement, and inclusive policy design.
“It was an incredible honour to represent Makerere on such a global stage,” said Rhinah Akankunda, who shared news of the win via social media. “This achievement affirms the power of youth-led innovation and the importance of equipping displaced communities with the tools and opportunities to thrive.”
Other finalists included Team Aspan from Kazakhstan and Team Path Seekers from Brazil, who also presented innovative ideas rooted in equity, empathy, and community impact.
The win underscores Makerere University’s growing presence on the international stage, particularly in student leadership and socially impactful innovation. It also reflects the role of global conferences in shaping the next generation of problem-solvers prepared to tackle urgent humanitarian challenges.
Speakers at the conference included leaders from CIEE, UNHCR, Jobs for the Future, and top global academic institutions. The event closed with a renewed call to action: to expand access to global internships, foster cross-border partnerships, and continue empowering students to lead change in an increasingly interconnected world.
