The ASYV team is a group of dedicated and hardworking professionals, many of whom live and work at the Village. We are devoted to providing the more than 500 young people in our care with the security, love, education, healing, and nutrition they need to thrive. It takes a village to transform a child, and it takes a team to build a village.

 

Executive Leadership

 

Jean-Claude Nkulikiyimfura

Chief Executive Officer

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Jean-Claude (JC) has over 17 years of experience in education, marketing, government, and corporate communication. At ASYV, JC manages a diverse team of educators and care providers while building successful local and international partnerships. JC’s passion lies in Rwanda’s development and the belief that Rwanda’s success will be achieved through educated, empowered, and resilient youth. He received a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Central Arkansas before returning to Rwanda to work as a media and protocol officer in the Office of the President. He then moved to South Africa to undertake a Master’s program in International Relations. After completing his Master’s degree, JC founded XLcom, a communications agency that provided communication services to organizations including the African Development Bank. Prior to joining ASYV, JC served as the General Manager for Saatchi & Saatchi Rwanda. In 2011, he joined the ASYV staff as Village Director and was later promoted to Executive Director in 2015.

Shiri Sandler

Chief Advancement and Strategy Officer

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Shiri has a deep background in education, programming, and fundraising, in post-genocide communities. Previously, Shiri was the U.S. Director of the Auschwitz Jewish Center at the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust. Shiri directed fundraising, educational programs for North American students, and Board relations for the Center, an affiliate of the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust. While at the Museum, she led immersive programs on dehumanization and genocide for military students, developed new ethics programs for professional school students, and taught about the Darfur genocide. Prior to joining the Museum, she was the Interim Chief of Staff at the Genocide Intervention Network, a Darfur genocide activism organization. Shiri received her M.A. in Modern European History from Brown University and her B.A. from Cornell University. Her academic research is on Soviet liberator rape of Jewish concentration camp survivors. Shiri is the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors.

ASYV Staff Leadership

Jill elias

Director of Visitor Programs

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In her role, Jill manages ASYV's year-long fellowships and visitor program. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Union College, Jill found her passion in nonprofit work and youth development while serving with AmeriCorps as a City Year corps member in her hometown of Philadelphia. She moved to New York City in 2012 to join the team at Starlight Children's Foundation, where she managed the organization's programs for children living with illnesses. Jill's interest in education and youth empowerment brought her to ASYV in April 2016.

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Christine Icyitegetse

Director of Finance

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Christine is a professional accountant with extensive experience in financial services. Christine is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and holds a Bachelor’s degree of Business Administration in accounting from the University of Rwanda, College of Business and Economics (UR-CBE). Christine joined ASYV in October of 2008 as an Accountant and was promoted to the position of Director of Finance in 2013. Prior to joining ASYV, she worked as a Finance and Business Development Specialist at Sustaining Partnerships to Enhance Rural Enterprises and Agribusiness Development (SPREAD RWANDA) from 2007 to October 2008.

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Aloys Kagimbura

Special Projects Manager

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After earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the University of Rwanda’s College of Education, Aloys began his work with the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village in 2009 as a Math and Instructional Enrichment teacher, before becoming Deputy Principal of the Liquidnet Family High School in 2011. In this capacity, he oversaw the teaching-learning process, designed and monitored performance indicators, analyzed grades, and organized teacher capacity building. He then went on to build the Parental Wholeness process and designed after-school program modules. In January 2017, Aloys became ASYV’s Academic Director where he lead the school as its chief administrator, managing personnel while developing and implementing academic policies and programs. In 2021, Aloys was appointed as Special Projects Manager. In this role, he partners with other International NGOs, schools, foundations, and the Rwanda Education Board to continually improve ASYV's education system and implement new projects.

With training in teaching methodologies for at-risk and post-conflict youth from MASHAV and FHO, in Jerusalem and London respectively, and training in instrumental enrichment and the mediated learning experience from Israel’s ICELP, Aloys enjoys helping his students succeed by building confidence and a sense of stability.

 

Martine Nibigira

Chief Operating Officer

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Martine joins ASYV as Chief Operating Officer with 10 years of experience in finance, leading in education projects and human resources. She has worked with world leading agencies in education sectors, international non-governmental organisations and charities. She started her early career in an accounting firm based in the UK, banking sector in Rwanda then followed by working as Project and Operations Manager in non-governmental agencies in Education sectors funded by Mastercard Foundations, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and leading UK Universities. Martine holds a bachelor degree in Accounting Financial Management and Marketing from Gloucestershire University and Masters in International Business and Finance from Aberdeen University. Education, giving back to the community and empowering the young generation lies close to her heart.

Richard Niyibigira

Country Director

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Richard has been working in the education sector in Rwanda for over 12 years. He has served as the Founding Director of the Evening and Weekend program at Akilah Institute (now Davis College) an organization for which he later served as the Academic Director, Vice President of Academics and Student Life, and Vice Chancellor. Richard has also served as a volunteer president of the Association of Teachers of English in Rwanda since 2015. In this role, he leads teachers' continuous professional development efforts for over 250 teachers in 10 districts of Rwanda. He has also chaired national and international conferences taking place in Rwanda and in the region. Richard’s choice to join ASYV was based on his dedication to youth empowerment. The ASYV mission to restore hope to the most vulnerable youth in Rwanda, as well as the Village's values, were the biggest motivators for Richard to join ASYV.

Dr. Annet Mulungi

Healthy Living Director

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Annet is a licensed medical doctor, accredited by the Rwandan Medical and Dental Council. She holds a bachelor’s degree in medicine and surgery, and a MSc. Field Epidemiology. Annet has a strong professional background in healthcare service delivery, public health, research, data analysis, and program management. She is committed to advancing universal health coverage, with expertise in managing maternal and child health programs and health service delivery. She is particularly passionate about promoting reproductive health and ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare for all, especially for vulnerable communities in Rwanda.

 

Brenda Iraba Rangira

Student Life Director

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Brenda worked in the service and tech industries for eight years prior to joining the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village. During these years, she acquired a wealth of experience in office management and communication and strengthened her skills in managing partner relations and coordinating local and international events. Since joining the Village in 2018, Brenda has served as Executive Assistant and Partnerships Manager. In these roles, she supported Village administrative operations, strategy, partner engagement, and project management. In her current role as Student Life Director, Brenda oversees the Parental Wholeness department; student activities; student affairs operations; conduct, cultural, and leadership development, and Village recreation, among other activities. Brenda has a degree in law with additional studies in project management.

lucile scott

Director of External Affairs

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Lucile began her career working as a writer and editor at POZ, the largest magazine about HIV/AIDS in the U.S. She has worked as a communications consultant at UNFPA and in both development and communications at amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research. Lucile has contributed to publications including POZ, TheBody.com, VICE, NyMag.com, Literary Hub, and more. Their plays have appeared at New York City theaters including the Cherry Lane, IRT Theater, Theater for the New City, and more and at the Edinburgh Fringe. Their book An American Covenant: A Story of Women, Mysticism and the Making of Modern America (Topple/Little A) was published in 2020. Lucile is a graduate of Northwestern University, and joined the ASYV team in June 2021.

Stella Wayianzuvuko

Principal, Liquidnet Family High School

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Stella joins ASYV with vast experience in faculty professional development and curriculum development and implementation. Previously, Stella was the Director for Faculty Professional Development and Quality Assurance at Davis College, Rwanda. At Davis College, she designed and delivered high-quality faculty workshops in a variety of teaching methodologies geared to learner-centered education. She has contributed to achieving positive academic outcomes for students through effective strategic organization, prioritization, and execution of key structures in faculty development. Stella also has experience teaching English language, writing, and English for specific purposes at Davis College, Uganda Christian University, and Victoria University, among other institutions. Stella received both her master’s degree in literature and her bachelor’s degree in education from Uganda Christian University.

 
 

Board of Directors

 
 

Ben Snyder

ASYV Board Chair

Jason Kotik

ASYV Treasurer and Fiscal Committee Chair, Rockefeller Asset Management

Christy LaMagna

ASYV Secretary, Strategic Meetings & Events

Michael Delgiacco

Twin City Capital

Laurie Toll Franz

ASYV Anything Is Possible Committee Chair and Board Chair Emeritus, Five Together Foundation

Kathy Harris

ASYV Human Resources & Compensation Committee Chair, Harris Allied

John Hoover

Chasbro Investments

Jean Kagubare

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Bertrand “Kiki” Kayiranga

BEAR Consulting

David Kirshner

LogicSource

Cheryl Knopp

ASYV Governance & Nominating Committee Chair, Trumid

Josh Kuckley

ASYV Investment Subcommittee Chair, Simcah Management

Jason Merrin

ASYV Program Strategy Committee Co-Chair, Hyperbolic Media

Crystal Rugege

Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Rwanda

Jeff Schwartzman

TP ICAP

Liz Stern

ASYV Program Strategy Committee Co-Chair and Board Chair Emeritus

Carine Umutoni

Ecobank Rwanda

Celine Uwineza

Right Seat Ltd.

Brian Walsh

ASYV Board Member