Mastercard Foundation Alumni Network
Rwanda
The Alumni Network is the culmination of our vision to mobilize the alumni from our programs — which include the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), Ashoka, the Youth Think Tank (YTT), the Scholars Program, the Anzisha Prize, and Youth Forward — to be a force for change.
To learn more about the Alumni Network, click here to complete the Mastercard Foundation Alumni Interest form.
To learn more about the Rwanda Alumni Network email: mcfrwandaalumninetwork@gmail.com.
Meet the Leadership Committee
Rwanda
Ariane Umuringa
Ariane Umuringa is a graduate of Fab Academy a digital fabrication hands-on experience at the Center for Bits and Atoms (CBA) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She has served as the country ambassador for Youth Opportunities in 2018 and has led leadership development programs for youth.
She is a computer scientist, social entrepreneur and co-founder of Starlight, a social innovation that makes science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) products and conducts workshops to inspire and spark curiosity, innovation and creativity in young students across Rwanda. Her passions include creating social innovative solutions that tackle climate change issues, affordable access to clean energy and women’s issues.
Benjamin Gisa Mushayija
Benjamin Gisa Mushayija is an African Leadership University (ALU) student, pursuing Global Challenge.
Benjamin works as a Program Manager at Acts of Gratitude (AOG), a Rwanda-based social enterprise that tackles youth unemployment and contribute to achieving other SDGs by solving key social challenges in local communities.
He is an alum of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), an Anzisha Fellow, and the lead of African Leadership University Sustainable Development Hub.
Benjamin is the co-founder of Kaso, a manufacturing company that manufactures and packages natural organic products both for consumption (e.g. honey, tea, oils, baking soda) and for cosmetic purposes (e.g. lotions, bee wax, coconut soap).
He is a passionate about and practices business development and youth empowerment.
Francine Nishimwe
Francine Nishimwe holds an Advanced Diploma in Land Survey from the University of Applied Sciences INES-Ruhengeri, Rwanda. She is also a Participant Engagement Chair for the YALI Rwanda Chapter.
She previously worked with Gahunga TVET School, Rwanda as an Electrical Trainer and Technical Trainer. She then worked with the East Africa Research and Data Analysis Institute, a marketing & Social Research company, as a Marketing Research Executive.
She has strong communications and teamwork skills and is passionate about bringing socio-economic change to his community.
Francine is enthused about the opportunity to contribute as a member of the Alumni Committee network.
Jean-Paul Rwigema
Jean-Paul Rwigema an alum of the Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI) program holds a bachelor’s in applied statistics from the University of Rwanda and is currently completing his master’s in business administration specialised in Artificial Intelligence at Nexford University, Washington DC.
Jean-Paul works with the African Leadership University as a Financial Aid Associate where he reviews and select financial aid applications and provides post admission and university support to selected Mastercard Foundation Scholars
He is currently working with Ida technology to improve the digital skills of young girls in the GirlsInCode program. Over the past two years, 35 girls have gone through Ida Technology’s eight months intensive coding program and graduated into various jobs.
In 2020, Jean-Paul won a micro-grant for social change from the Pollution Project and a COVID-19 relief grant by the Government of Rwanda under the Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture.
Olive Uwimana
Olive Uwimana is a Youth Think Tank alum and holds a master’s degree in data science with specialization in econometrics from the African Centre of Excellence in Data Science and a bachelor’s degree in management with concentration in logistics and operations from Southern New Hampshire University.
Olive recently joined African Leadership University (ALU) as an Academic Assistant for the School of Wildlife Conservation (SOWC). Prior to that, she was a Program Associate at African Union under Social Affairs Department in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She is a passionate about women empowerment and youth mainstreaming.
Sandrine Tuyisenge
Sandrine Tuyisenge is an alum of the Hanga Ahazaza program and holds a diploma in hospitality management from the Akilah Institute. Post-graduation, Sandrine joined Davis College and Akilah Institute team where she works as the student affairs officer. In her role, she provides guidance to student leaders and empower them to create positive student experiences.
Sandra previously worked at the Breast Cancer Initiative East Africa as a Program Management Intern and facilitated the US Embassy Rwanda led Everybody Reads program which aimed to promote a reading culture in Rwanda.
She has strong customer care, communications, planning, organizational, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills, and values diversity.
In the future, Sandrine hopes to continue her studies and start a career in project management.
Sheila Mbadi
Sheila Mbadi holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and a master’s degree in information technology from the Carnegie Mellon University –Africa (CMU-Africa).
Professionally she is a Software Engineer and an Applied Machine Learning Specialist. She also has experience in academia as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at CMU – Africa and as a Research Assistant at the Kigali Collaborative Research Centre.
She delights in forming communities and ensuring they succeed. At heart, she is a Pan-Africanist who is always looking for opportunities to connect with fellow Africans for the betterment of the continent.