Rwanda’s Kigali bags global Wellbeing City Award competing Vancouver, LA, Gothenburg

Rwanda’s capital Kigali has been named Public Health Laureate for 2019 Wellbeing City Award. The award was declared on May 23 by NewCities, the non-profit organization that aims at shaping a better future for cities.

The prestigious Wellbeing City Award is the first of its kind, and a type of international initiative to recognize and honour city governments that place wellbeing at the centre of urban planning and policymaking. Classified under the Public Health category, the prestigious award is reserved for the most progressive and innovative ideas that drive positive changes in cities (large and small) through events, research and urban innovation projects, as reported by The New Times.

Rwanda’s capital, Kigali was in competition with Sweden’s Gothenburg, Canada’s Vancouver and Los Angeles on the ‘Public Health Laureate award’. More than 100 cities from 27 countries were considered in the first year of the Award. The City of Kigali has been selected and awarded for ‘Car Free Day’-The bi-monthly activity which includes; free community sports and medical check-ups.

“We are so excited the City of Kigali being selected as a laureate of 2019, Wellbeing City Award in the Public Health category. This is a vote of confidence for Kigali Car Free Day as an activity that promotes healthy living and wellbeing in the city. We thank our citizens who have embraced the ‘Car Free Days’ and all our partners who have made this innovative activity a success,” Mayor of City of Kigali, Marie Chantal Rwakazina said, as reported by KTPress.

“The City of Kigali has been selected for their Kigali Car Free Day. Every first and third Sunday of the month, the citizens of Kigali are encouraged to leave their cars at home and attend a free community event with sports activities and medical check-ups,” a statement by NewCities read.

“We are seeing an increase in popularity around Car Free Days; however, Kigali is taking it a step further by mobilising the community around activities that promote and increase wellbeing. It is fantastic to see and I congratulate them for being this year’s Public Health laureate – it is well deserved,” John Rossant, NewCities Founder and Chair opined.

Kigali also has a Car-Free Zone, a street in downtown Kigali restricted for motorists. The space is used for social interactions, networking and other social events.

Also Read: Rwanda: Imminent Kigali city master plan to reveal development roadmap for 30 years