Group 2 Rwanda

Meet the Second Group CorpsAfrica/Rwanda Volunteers

Marie Grace INGABIRE developed an early interest in journalism, communication and interdisciplinary studies. In 2019 November, she received her Bachelors degree in Journalism and Communication from the University of Rwanda with high honors. When she was at university, Grace did volunteer work in media platforms, especially online media. She wrote different stories at Umuryango.com and Umuseke.com and even broadcasted stories at Contact TV. She also worked teaching children discipline, politeness, respect, school courses and religious courses at Kimisagara compassion. Through CorpsAfrica/Rwanda, she is serving her Rwandan community through mindset change and promoting grassroots solutions. She believes that being part of CorpsAfrica is a great opportunity to change society and make an impact in rural area.

KAYIRANGA Faustin was born and raised in Rwanda. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and business from Universite Libre de Kigali. He is a visual artist and has also attended different trainings, conference, workshop and art exhibition such as training on high cloths fabrication and global fashion by reborn Kyoto (a Japanese NGO), akazi kanoze readiness trainings by EDC, training of trainer by national Itorero commission, and trains (umutoza w’intore) of itorero indatabigwi.
In 2013, he participated in group art exhibitions in the opening of imagine art studio, 2014 participated in IMAGO MUNDI ART PROJECT at Inganzo art Gallery, in 2014 he participated into UMUGANURA art exhibition, in 2015 he participated into HOBE Rwanda culture festival at Kigali Serena hotel, 2015 he participated into Rwanda art exhibition at Car fee zone, in 2016 and 2018 he participated in a solo art exhibition at Nobleza hotel. Before joining CorpsAfrica, he was a volunteer at One Help One Direction Ihumure Rwanda. His mission in life is to serve his country and Africa by giving the communities the love that he has received freely and working hand in hand with the communities towards sustainable development. He believes that “the strongest people support others even if they are struggling with their own problems.”

Speciose KUBWIMANA was in Group 1 and her service has been extended to an additional year of service in Group 2. She was born and raised in Rwanda. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Land Administration and Management from the Institute of Applied Science (INES Ruhengeri /Rwanda) in 2018. She conducted her academic internship in Rwanda Land Management and Use Authority under the office of the Nyarugenge District Land Office. In this position, she learned how to become a good archivist, compiling land documents, customer care and how to deal with the District land issue cases. Before joining CorpsAfrica, Speciose worked as a data collector for a USAID land project, where she worked on Access to the Land Tenure Administration System in Rwanda and the Impact of the System on Ordinary Citizens project. Speciose believes that serving as a CorpsAfrica Volunteer provides the opportunity for her to be part of the change she would like to see in her community.

Sandrine KWIZERA was born and raised in Rwanda. She holds a bachelorsˈ degree in economics science and management with second class upper division from University of Lay Adventists of Kigali (UNILAK) class 2016. After completion of her studies, she worked at Atlantis Microfinance Ltd, due to good ethics and great performance, Sandrine has been appointed in different positions such as supervisor of agent sales and reconciliation where she was working as receptionist and teller line. One of her duties was to analyze the effect of micro-finance services on community and how to reduce the poverty rate in her country as well as in Africa. She also worked as a storekeeper and cashier in Proudly Company.
She believes that through volunteering, one feels more connected to community, develops emotional stability, make a difference to the people around her and build on existing experience and knowledge. She has a passion to give back and favorite quote is, "You make a living by what you get. You make a life with what you give," by Winston Churchill

Gideon MASENGESHO was born and raised in Rwanda's southern province. He holds a bachelor’s Degree in Law from University of Rwanda. He worked as a Youth Volunteer at University of Rwanda and participated in a humanitarian aid conference organized by RED CROSS, training of African Leadership (HUYE 2019), attended the Human Right Universal declaration (Kigali 2018) and before becoming a Volunteer at CorpsAfrica, he acquired training in emergence and disaster management. He served as law and research intern in Huye Intermediate Court (IC HUYE) and worked as law Student in Legal Aid Clinic at University of Rwanda, assisting the economically disadvantaged people to access justice through giving legal advice, mediation and drafting court submission free of charge. He also participated in Rwanda Bridges to Justice. In addition, Gideon conducted the final project to the legal protection of environment vis-a-vis the management of solid waste in Rwandan urban areas.

MIGAMBI Jean was born in southern province/Rwanda. He holds a Bachelors’ degree in English Education from the University of Rwanda. He was a teacher at GS APACE in 2015. Then a sales and marketing manager at 1000 Hills Distillery and in charge of mobilization at the City of Kigali. He was a sector learning facilitator at VSO Rwanda. In 2016-2019, he was a Founder of Made in Rwanda Market (Made in Rwanda Campaign).

MUNEZA Leon Yves was born and raised in Rwanda. He graduated from the University of Rwanda, College of Science and Technology with Bachelors of Science in Biotechnology class 2017. During his undergraduate studies, he was selected by the university to pursue online courses in Digital Africa Platform Management Strategy and Innovation, which was provided by the Center for Global Enterprise through novoed and he demonstrated knowledge of platform business models, global management and leadership skills. His volunteer experience started when he was engaged in caring for endangered species of mountain gorillas in the Volcanoes National park. He participated in conserving their natural habitats, Sensitizing the local community living near the park to put an end to poaching activities and facilitated those people to find other ways of living by initiating small projects. In addition, he worked as volunteer in blood donation program when he was conducting his academic internship at Gihundwe district hospital. After graduating, he worked as quality control analyst at Safari Cleaning Company LTD and at CETRAF LTD. Prior to joining CorpsAfrica, he was working as a quality assurance analyst at Africa Improved Food (Rwanda) LTD. MUNEZA is certain that you don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don’t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.

NDAYAMBAJE Claude was born and raised in Rwanda, specifically in Southern Province, Nyanza District. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Law from the University of Rwanda/College of Arts and Social Sciences class 2019. He conducted his academic internship in Huye Intermediate Court which is located in Huye District. During his internship, he learned how to deal with different legal issues relating to Rwandan legal framework. In additional to that, he conducted professional internship in JUSTA CAUSA law firm. He voluntarily provided different legal aids for vulnerable people and also he has attended different trainings and conferences such as a training on fighting against corruption (which was organized by the Rwanda Office of Ombudsman), training of leadership skills, training of International Humanitarian Law which was organized by Rwanda Red Cross (CRC). Claude believes that he was born to serve others not being served by other, so, for him there is no reason that can stop him from serving any community.

NDENGEJEHO ISAAC was born and raised in Rwanda, southern province. He has a bachelor's degree in education with economics from University of Rwanda /College of Education. He served as a volunteer at Rwanda red cross in its community first aid department, he was a vice-president of peace and justice commission of catholic community. He participated in several forums, trainings, workshops and conferences namely: youth connekt convention and youth connekt Africa summit, Africa green growth forum, indaba x (machine learning and artificial intelligence conference), tedx nyarugenge talks on imagine the future, sustainable development goals center for Africa, public speaking master class by idebate Rwanda. He also attended readings for change discussions by afflatus Africa on 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. He received a certificate of merit for superior academic performance from University of Rwanda. He is currently a co-founder and advisor of "we got your back organization," which is engaged in ending gender-based violence in our society. He is also a positive thinker who believes in the possibility of everything whenever there is hope, a will and desire for it.

Cecile NIYIMENYA was born and raised in Rwanda. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural-Economics from the University of Rwanda, College of Agriculture, Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, class 2017. Before joining CorpsAfrica, she did her professional internship in Kirehe District, where she learned how to work with communities, helping them to find solutions to their problems as she was working as a Cooperative Support Officer in 2018. She was also an intern at NAEB in the department of Monitoring and Evaluation. She participated in Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator in their four-week program called English Learning Bridge Participant, where she learned how to be self-reliant and expand her work readiness behaviors. Cecile believes that serving as a CorpsAfrica Volunteer will help her to be a change-maker in her community and also give her contribution to the development of the country as a youth.

Israel NIYOMUGENGA was born in the Western Province of Rwanda. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of Rwanda. He did his High School at Petit Séminaire saint Léon de Kabgayi in Biology-Chemistry-Mathematics. After finishing high School in 2011, he served as a patron and deputy of discipline at School of Art of Nyundo. Israel was a volleyball national league player in Kigali volleyball club (KVC), first team player of his university's basketball and volleyball team, coach of his university’s basketball girls first team, and a member of the gender and Red Cross clubs. In 2016, he did three-month medical laboratory internship in Kabgayi hospital and a four-month industrial laboratory internship in Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC) Kimisagara plant. In 2017, he did a six months training and internship in sales and marketing at Interns4africa, a Microsoft program surveyed by PT Consult Rwanda Ltd. In 2018, Israel worked in a mining company called MNK Jewelers Rwanda Ltd as a procurement consultant and as an English-Swahili-French and Kinyarwanda translator. In 2019, he worked at Laterite Rwanda Ltd one of the best data collection and research companies in Rwanda.
Through CorpsAfrica/Rwanda, Israel has dedicated himself to the service of volunteering. “Prosperity is made of drops of development, so let’s share ours.”

Eric NKORERIMANA was born and raised in Rwanda. He graduated from the University of Rwanda, College of Arts and Social Sciences (former National University of Rwanda) in History and Heritage Studies, class 2018. He attended the Global Leadership Summit, worked as journalist on Radio Rwanda / Huye branch in program of culture and raising awareness of disabilities persons. This increased his communication skills and experience. In 2018, he volunteered in Bright Future cornerstone. He also worked as a field facilitator in community digital skills delivery in Gisagara district as Digital Ambassador. He was recognized as a social innovator among DOT Youth daring innovators. He is a member of YOULEAD movement of East Africa, an organization that works with politics and economic development. He works towards behavior change as a means for creating lasting impact in communities. According to him, doing small actions that remain in hearts and minds are more satisfying than any other thing in the world.

Justin NKUNZIMANA graduated from the University of Rwanda with a bachelor’s degree in translation and interpreting studies. Before joining CorpsAfrica, he was a journalist on Radio Salus since 2017, mainly working on Sexual Reproductive Health issues and this experience gave him a chance to contribute to the reduction of early child bearing in Rwanda through working to providing related and needed information. Apart from that, he has been involved in community development programs where he volunteered as Beekeeping Project Leader in Rwanda Village Community Promoters since 2017. He has taken part in the successfulness of Urdu project that aimed at providing access to health information in rural areas as translator. And he is now a member of Translators Without Borders. Justin believes that the change he wants to see lies in hand of serving his country.

Benjamin RUGIRA holds a bachelor's degree in Statistics Applied to Economy from Ruhengeri Institute of Higher Education (INES- Ruhengeri /Rwanda) class 2018. He conducted internships in different institutions such as the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning of Rwanda (Minecofin), Musanze district and DOT Rwanda.
Benjamin participated in the training of international human rights instruments and advocacy strategies. He also participated in the training of Economic Policy Analysis and using Stata. He worked at Digital opportunity Trust (DOT-RWANDA) as a digital ambassador, where his primary duties were to increase the number of digitally literate citizens by delivering digital literacy to the community he lives in through facilitation, forming digital clubs and create positive change. He worked at a part time job as field enumerator at Easter African Statistical Research and Consultancy (EASRC LTD). Furthermore, he worked as a data entry clerk at African Evangelical Enterprise (AEE)/Twiyubake Program of USAID. He is a Digital Opportunity Trust Alumni, a member of African Initiative for Mankind Progress Organization (AIMPO), a member of Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). Benjamin believes that vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity.

Alexandre RURANGWA holds a bachelorsˈ degree in Governance and Leadership from the University of Rwanda / Huye campus, class 2018. He volunteered with the Red Cross as a blood donor in secondary school and university. He became a youth volunteer in community policing and acted as an enumerator in households profiling. He also worked as a teacher of History and Geography in secondary school. Alexandre cherishes volunteering as the best way of giving back to the community and being fruitful to others. He believes that helping others without expecting anything in return heals the soul and brings self-satisfaction in life. He is glad to work as a CorpsAfrica Volunteer.

Redempta UWASE was born and raised in Rwanda. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Crop Science/Horticulture from the University of Rwanda class 2019. She was a co-founder of Agri-research NGO in University of Rwanda College of Agriculture Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine (CAVM) Busogo Campus, which envisages development of rural agriculture by empowering rural farmers for self-reliance on their production also involving young Rwandans in agriculture. She was a group leader in Group Biblique Universities-Rwanda (GBU-R) and a competitor in Hult Prize@ University of Rwanda and in career center in agricultural business project, where she got different awards. She carried out an internship in Rwanda Development Organization (RDO) and in Kamonyi Seed Production. She has attended different conferences and trainings like youth leadership in countries of great lakes. She worked as an agronomist at QUSAI Agriculture ltd Company in Bugesera district prior joining in CorpsAfrica. Her vision is to play a role in making good sustainable changes in society.

Diane UWIMPUHWE is a native of the Northern Province of Rwanda. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English Education from University of Rwanda College of Education. She is passionate about listening and empowering vulnerable people. She herself lived in an orphanage. During her high school period she was a research coordinator and a coordinator of healing the word project in high school at Agahozo shalom youth village. Diane did her first volunteer in 2016 as CHAN volunteer. She believes that the greatest thing you can do for humanity is to help someone who is in dire need of help without expecting anything in return. She also believes that being a part of CorpsAfrica helps to fulfill her dreams through listening and empower vulnerable people.

Phoibe UWINEZA was born and raised in Rwanda. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Applied Science/Land Survey from Ruhengeri Institute of Higher Education (INES- Ruhengeri /Rwanda) Class 2018. She has a strong background in mathematics, physics and geography. She did research on Soil Erosion Risk Assessment for prioritization of conservation measures in Gakenke District. While in school, she worked with her community as an active member in club (Anti -SIDA) to mobilize and fight against HIV/ AIDS and teach people how to take care those who live with HIV/AIDS. She conducted her academic internship in Rwanda Land Management and Use Authority under the office of the Musanze District Land Office and she made many practices about Land Information System (G.I.S). She has skills in Arc GIS Software and Auto-card Software. Phoibe believes that serving as a CorpsAfrica Volunteer provides the opportunity for her to be part of the change she would like to see in her community and through making small changes, she will make a big impact in rural communities.

UWONKUNDA Anny Benilde was born in Rwanda. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Statistics from the University of Rwanda, College of Business and Economics, class 2018. Her present career goal is to look for solutions for the betterment of her society. During her time at University, she was a school representative and acted as Vice Speaker of the Board of Representatives, where her duties were all about advocacy for her fellow colleagues on different issues. She carried out her academic internship at Rulindo District Headquarters. During her studies, she was a volunteer in Never Again Rwanda (NAR) and also in Rwanda Youth Volunteers in Community Policing. Apart from that, she attended different trainings, events and summits, such as trainings on critical thinking and human rights from NAR, training on leadership (7 Habits of Highly Effective People), on infectious disease management (IDM), Job Net Event, Global leadership and Youth Connect Africa Summits. Before Joining CorpsAfrica, she was an intern in DOT Rwanda as Digital Ambassador where her responsibilities were all about facilitating digital skills through delivering DAP training/content to citizens and ensure the application of the digital literacy skills by the citizens into their livelihoods and to act as catalysts of change in her community. She believes that what she is doing is just a drop in the ocean but the ocean would be less because of that missing drop, therefore she hopes that being CorpsAfrica Volunteer will help her to be part of the change that she wants to see and leave a legacy to people’s heart.