Rwanda Fellowship

Diane Uwingabire

Sustainable Land Use Fellow

Diane is a graduate of Geography with Environmental Planning. Since childhood her dream has been to make a difference and be the change she perceives to be needed in the world around her. She is now pursuing her passion for sustainable environmental wellness and is eager to extend this through her fellowship with GanzAfrica. She has a strong appetite for learning and is excited to learn from industry experts during her fellowship journey.
Diane also likes reading books and traveling.

Gilbert Rugengamanzi

Sustainable Land use Fellow

Gilbert has a bachelor’s degree in Geography with Urban Planning from the University of Rwanda’s School of Architecture and the Built Environment, College of Science and Technology.
His interest in geography began in childhood and he has always been fascinated by how people affect the environment and how the environment affects them. As a GanzAfrica fellow Gilbert will specialize in land use planning and management, driven by the belief that well-planned and managed land creates a sustainable environment, supporting sustainable agriculture and development.
His hobbies are reading books, sports and leisure.

Joël Rukundo

Climate Finance Fellow

Joël is an environmentalist with a deep passion for biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, and the green and circular economy. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Management and has made it his life's mission to make a positive difference in his community, nation, continent and for the world at large.
Joël firmly believes that young people should at the forefront of the search for solutions towards a sustainable future, and he is dedicated to being a part of this journey. With climate change, global warming, and food insecurity being some of the most pressing issues facing the world today, he is committed to finding practical solutions and making a positive impact.

Patrick Iradukunda

Land Administration & Management Fellow

Patrick graduated from the Institute for Applied Sciences (INES) Ruhengeri with a bachelor’s degree in Land Administration and Management. His thesis examined the development of spatial data sharing in Rwanda, which made him a Geographical Information System (GIS) enthusiast and he went on to further GIS-based research as a professional intern, with both public and private institutions, including the Rwanda railway project (Kagitumba-Kigali). At GanzAfrica, Patrick is eager to tackle the spatial information gap evident across all sectors in Rwanda and the wider African continent, which, if filled, can deliver the critical coordination needed to address challenges for the environment, agriculture, and climate change.
Patrick enjoys walking as sport and reading books and novels. He is especially passionate about writing stories and movie scripts.

Tinashe Chigwende

Data Analytics Fellow

Tinashe recently graduated from the University of Zimbabwe with a BSc Honors in Actuarial Science. She has always been passionate about numbers. Tinashe is also passionate about impacting her community and looks forward to gaining knowledge to achieve this with her data analysis skills, during her GanzAfrica fellowship. She is also excited to learn from industry experts while contributing to the achievement of the organisation’s vision.
Tinashe also enjoys attending social gatherings and reading novels.

Belynda Abayisenga

Impact Communication Fellow

Belynda is a Communications Fellow at GanzAfrica, where she brings a passion for effective communication, sustainability, and an eagerness to learn. She is also pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a major in Business, at Southern New Hampshire University through the Kepler Program, Rwanda.
Concerned about the impact of climate change, Belynda looks forward to expanding her skills and making a positive impact on the African continent at GanzAfrica. Outside of work, Belynda enjoys watching basketball, poetry, reading, singing, spending time with friends, traveling, and learning about sustainable living practices.

Joel Jonathan

Environmental Conservation Fellow

Joel Jonathan has a bachelor’s degree in Geography and Environmental Planning from the University of Rwanda's College of Science and Technology. He is also a nature lover and a passionate environmental conservationist, enjoying activities that keep him closely connected to nature, including wetlands restoration and disaster management. At GanzAfrica Joel is keen to advance his GIS and remote sensing skills and looks forward to a career of service to society.
One of Joel’s favourite pastimes is watching the National Geographic TV channel, though he also enjoys playing soccer, swimming, and debating.

Aimee Marie Ishimwe

Policy Animation Fellow

Aimee Marie is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Computer Science at the African Leadership University. She seeks to use her love for storytelling to support policy implementation as a GanzAfrica Fellow by creating captivating animations that clearly and relatably explain crucial concepts and information to service users.
Aimee looks forward to gaining a deeper understanding of the land, agriculture, and environment nexus with GanzAfrica. She is also excited to work closely with local communities and gain insight into culture, customs, traditions, and stories, which can inform her animations. The backdrop of Rwanda’s beautiful landscapes and natural environment is an added bonus; inspiring her characters and settings. When she is not drawing, coding, or spending time with family and friends, Aimee enjoys watching movies.

Nadege Sandra Uwayezu

Impact Communications Fellow

Nadege Sandra Uwayezu is completing her Bachelor of Communication at Southern New Hampshire University through Kepler College in Kigali. She is excited to use her communication skills, artistic expression, and critical thinking as a GanzAfrica Fellow by analyzing information, drawing lessons, and writing powerful stories around agriculture and environment. She is intrigued by learning how the public sector operates, what important aspects need to be emphasized, and how decision-makers' attention may be drawn to those. She intends, in the long run, to change the narrative and promote positive transformation as well as civic engagement in collaboration with other fellows. Nadege is an author and literary editor whose diverse interests include reading, traveling, art, and cultural exchange

Joselyto Charite Baho Kemana

Digital Innovation Fellow

Joselyto is passionate about communication and IT, and loves the creative space where these two disciplines intersect. He is currently studying for a BA in Communication with Southern New Hampshire University, through the Kepler Program, Rwanda. He is also developing expertise in trending computer programming and analysis tools.
Joselyto thrives on creating impactful solutions and brings an outside-the-box approach to every project. At GanzAfrica he seeks to use these skills to make a meaningful difference for the land dependent communities served.
Outside work, Baho enjoys watching movies, playing games, especially chess, and exploring various genres of music.

Polycarpe Mizero

Sustainable Agriculture Fellow

Polycarpe is soon-to-graduate from Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA), where he is pursuing a BSc in Conservation Agriculture with a specialization in crop production systems. His areas of interest include agri-tech, agriculture data analytics, agribusiness, and agricultural applied research. He is also entrepreneurial and is currently developing a fertilizer recommendation app for farmers. Polycarpe also has experience with GIS and is looking forward to expanding his knowledge of this field during his GanzAfrica fellowship.
Basketball, cycling, and nature photography are some of Polycarpe's hobbies.

Ghea Sandrine Mawen

Data Analytics Fellow

Ghea Sandrine is soon to complete her Bachelor (Hons) in Computer Science at the African Leadership University. She is a dedicated and purpose-driven data scientist, committed to addressing the pressing challenges of climate change and food insecurity in Africa. Ghea is looking forward to utilizing her expertise to harness the power of data and drive meaningful change during her GanzAfrica fellowship. Ghea’s ultimate aim is to develop data-driven strategies that mitigate the impacts of climate change and foster food security.
Ghea's passions extend beyond her professional life, as she finds delight in cooking delicious dishes and enjoying the freedom of dance.

Lysa Berwa

Sustainable Agriculture Fellow

Lysa is a dynamic professional with a BSc in Conservation Agriculture, with specialization in food processing from Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA). Her passion lies in policymaking, development work, and innovative food processing systems. Lysa strives to combat malnutrition and ensure food security through advocacy of sustainable and conservation farming practices, not only in Rwanda but across Africa, courtesy of her involvement in the GanzAfrica Fellowship Program. She is also dedicated to redefining how agriculture is perceived and communicated, especially among youth. Beyond her professional pursuits, Lysa constantly seeks to expand her skill set, meet new people, listen to music and travel.

Fatimatou Sourang

Food Systems Fellow

Fatimatou is a graduate engineer in international agricultural development with a major in human nutrition. She has always been passionate about development that improves life for the most vulnerable people. With a focus on improving food security and nutrition she is eager to expand her experience through her GanzAfrica fellowship and is excited to innovate practical solutions that are implementable on a large scale. Fatimatou believes young people who are passionate about the development of their continent can change the future and contribute to its improvement. Beyond her professional life, she loves to discover new cultures, customs and traditions and is passionate about sports, especially tennis and horse riding.

Armand Musoni Hirwa

Sustainable Land Use Fellow

Armand graduated from Rwanda’s Institute for Applied Science (INES) - Ruhengeri, with a bachelor’s degree in land surveying. His thesis used geospatial technology to deliver a hospital navigation platform, mapping the distribution of medical facilities across an area to improve access to services for local populations. Armand is passionate about GIS and dedicated to making a positive impact on the planet. Having also completed ESRI training, he aspires to apply this new frontier analytics technology to shaping communities for sustainable future land use planning and management. Armand likes to swim and play basketball for recreation.

Jeannine Uwase

Digital Systems Fellow

Jeannine is currently working toward her bachelor’s degree in software engineering at the African Leadership University. Her true passion lies in understanding user needs and crafting products that effectively address community challenges. In addition, she's deeply enthusiastic about cybersecurity. Jeannine sees GanzAfrica as the perfect platform to pursue her ambition to deliver software solutions that tackle community issues and create job opportunities for millions. She's excited to foster innovation and contribute positively to communities during her time at GanzAfrica. When she's not immersed in coding, design, or product documentation, she cherishes spending quality time with her loved ones.

Yassin Mutabazi

Sustainable Agriculture Fellow

Yassin is a dedicated Conservation Agriculturalist, holding a BSc in Conservation Agriculture, with a specialization in agricultural mechanization and irrigation from the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA). Passionate about global sustainable food safety and green communications, Yassin pursued leadership, community service and data management during his time at RICA. As a GanzAfrica fellow, he looks forward to advancing the organization’s work in sustainable agriculture and community welfare. Outside work, Yassin enjoys quality time with friends, music, and travelling.

Marie Merci Hermione Rutayisire

Sustainable Agriculture Fellow

Hermione graduated from Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA), with a BSc in Conservation Agriculture and is a dedicated advocate for sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation. Hermione's goals are to promote responsible land use, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable farming practices through active engagement in collaborative projects and initiatives. She aspires to co-create policies supporting environmental sustainability, and mentor the next generation of agriculture and environment professionals. Hermione is committed to societal impact, continual learning, and addressing critical challenges to her GanzAfrica fellowship. She purposes to use this opportunity to create a prosperous and eco-conscious future for her community and beyond. Outside work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching movies, and volunteering.