Introducing myself and my journal: MY VOICE COUNTS

About Me:
I am a human development expert with more than 15 years of leadership experience in non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international organisations and Embassies. My expertise is in gender and development; women’s leadership; protection and defense of children’s and women’s rights; conflict resolution and peacebuilding; and HIV and AIDS. She has worked with the ICRC, ActionAid International and USAID, in addition to her work with national NGOs.

I longly worked worked as a community-level peacemaker in Burundi’s peace process, using dialogue, culture, games and sports to bring Burundian ethnic communities (Hutu and Tutsi) together and promote reconciliation. I made researches on how to link the traditional Burundian institution “UBUSHINGANTAHE” with international NGO peace building and development work in an effort to contribute to a sustainable peace and development.

I play a very active role in Burundi’s civil society and occupy top positions in some of the main civil society organizations for the defense of human rights, specifically girls and women rights. I am the Vice President of the Forum for the Reinforcement of Civil Society, a coalition of 145 organizations, and Chief Commissioner of the Burundi Girl Guides Association. I am also the President of the Management Committee of “AMAHORO-AMANI” peace project in the Great Lakes countries: Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo – North and South Kivu and Rwanda. This is a joint project of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) and the World Association for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts Bureau (WAGGGS), implemented by the scouts and girls guides associations in the sub-region.

I am an independent trainer of women and young girls who would like to engage in politics in Burundi in various fields, especially in gender and leadership.

My Passions:
Dances, making friends

My Challenges:
Wanting to do several things at the same time

My Vision for the Future:
A World in which Girls and Women are empowered and have their voices heard

My Areas of Expertise:
Office Management, administration , Gender issues and children's rights