Gaëlle Agahozo ASYV Class of 2018

Gaëlle is currently a senior computer science major at Hendrix College. She lost her mother at the age of one. She and her brother were raised by their grandmother, along with her seven children. Growing up in a household full of adults, Gaëlle found little space to express herself. Gaëlle was timid when she joined ASYV and uncertain about her future. However, ASYV allowed her to step out of her comfort zone and join various clubs — such as Debate Club, Isano Isangiwe (Theater), Girl Up, and Pay It Forward — and was later entrusted with a position in Student Government. These experiences helped her develop confidence, articulate her thoughts, and advocate for other students. After graduating from ASYV, Gaëlle was selected for Bridge2Rwanda, a gap-year program that helps students from East Africa secure scholarships to study abroad. Through Bridge2Rwanda, she earned a scholarship to attend Hendrix College, where she is now preparing to graduate and seek a job in software engineering. Gaëlle is forever grateful to ASYV for shaping her life and giving her the courage to pursue her dreams. 

Emmanuel Ahishakiye ASYV Class of 2023

Emmanuel is a sophomore at the University of Rochester, where he is double majoring in computer science and business. Before ASYV, life felt uncertain, but the Village opened up new opportunities—introducing him to leadership, technology, and the importance of giving back through Tikkun Olam and Pay It Forward. At ASYV, he served as the minister of education in Student Government at the Liquidnet Family High School, where he advocated for tech-savvy, project-based learning. Emmanuel was among the top 6 teams out of 500 in the 2022 Global Hacking for Skills competition, hosted by the International Telecommunication Union. He was also a winner of the weekly national Wavumbuzi Entrepreneurship Challenge 2022. Additionally, he co-founded Jackal Tech Ltd (www.jackaltechltd.com), a technology startup aimed at solving real-world problems through cutting-edge digital solutions, and completed a Python programming course through Carnegie Mellon University’s CS Academy, further solidifying his passion for technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation. At Rochester, Emmanuel also participates in both Policy and British Parliamentary debate with the Debate Union, NSBE, and the UR Robotics Club. He’s passionate about using technology to drive innovation and aims to work at a global tech company while expanding his ventures to impact the world.

Deborah Meillah Asiimwe Hirwa ASYV Class of 2022

Deborah is in her first year at Bates College, where she is planning to study economics and environmental studies. Before coming to the Village, she was very unsure of who she was, with the world around her defined by the opinions of others. Moving between different schools, she saw herself only through the lens of her circumstances and had little hope for a future beyond what she was experiencing. At ASYV, she tapped into her passions, becoming the first female president of the Student Government, which deepened her connection to the Village, its values, and her commitment to service through Tikkun Olam. In her own words, Agahozo-Shalom has been a transformative home that helped her connect with her true self. It gave her hope to acknowledge her past but not let it define her character, journey, and goals. After graduation from Bates, Deborah plans to contribute to Rwanda's environmental sustainability and economic growth, as well as support young girls who face similar challenges to those she once experienced.

Katya Atete ASYV Class of 2021

Katya is a student at Seton Hill University, where she is studying data analytics. Before coming to the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village, Katya lived her life on a bet. When she arrived in the Village, Katya got involved in different activities and everything changed. She played on the girls’ basketball team and volunteered with the Career Development Center. ASYV gave her an opportunity to find her voice and strength through leadership. The love, courage, and motivation Katya received from the Village inspires her to be a better person and to pay it forward.

Serge Jabo Byusa ASYV Class of 2013

Serge is a senior software engineer and the co-founder and CTO of Tourifique. A survivor of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi, Serge was raised in Rwanda by his widowed mother, alongside his siblings and cousins. At the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village, Serge encountered a computer for the very first time, sparking a profound passion that changed his life forever. ASYV gave him hope, a family, and the chance to dream beyond his circumstances. With this newfound love for technology, Serge earned a scholarship to McGill University, becoming a proud computer science alumnus. The "See Far" motto and ASYV’s values of Tikkun Olam and Tikkun Halev inspired him to build businesses in North America and give back by empowering others to reach their full potential.

Emile Izere
ASYV Class of 2022

Emile is currently studying at Yale University. In Emile’s words, his journey began in an ordinary high school in Rwanda, where opportunities for leadership, service, and academic growth were limited. Then, he came to the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village, a place that provided not just education but a family, and that taught him the value of sharing success with others. In this loving and supportive ASYV family, he learned that vulnerability, poverty, and orphanhood need not hold him back from pursuing his dreams. They became not excuses but motivators to strive for excellence, helping him reach one of the best universities in the world today. As he advances through his education at Yale University, he carries the legacy of ASYV with him. After graduation, his vision is to return to Africa, investing his acquired skills and knowledge to enhance the impact of existing charity organizations, extending their reach and support to individuals in need across the continent.

Eugenie Kawera
ASYV Class of 2023

Kawera is a freshman at Smith College, where she intends to major in statistical and data sciences. Before attending ASYV, Kawera was shy and quiet. She found it hard to express herself or take on leadership roles, preferring to stay in the background and watch rather than speak up. She didn't believe her ideas could create change for those around her. At ASYV, she participated in different clubs, including Model UN and Debate, which pushed her to step outside of her comfort zone, participate in discussions, and represent various countries' viewpoints. The Village taught her so much more than academics—it transformed her mindset and gave her the tools to shape her future. It taught her resilience, the ability to overcome challenges and keep pushing forward no matter how difficult things seem. After graduation, she sees herself using data science to contribute to empowering communities, and ensuring that technology benefits everyone, especially those in underserved areas.

Deborah Mukeshimana
ASYV Class of 2022

Deborah is currently a sophomore accounting major at Abilene Christian University, where she believes in the intersection of accounting and film—proving that anything is possible. From a young age, she was intrigued by movies and often wondered how they were made. Before coming to the Village, she had never touched a camera, but Agahozo-Shalom opened her eyes through its extracurricular activities. Joining the ASYV media club allowed her to explore photo and video production, helping her express herself and facilitating her healing. As the first female president of the media club, she discovered the power of visual storytelling. Now, she aspires to pursue her CPA, focusing on audit and client interaction, as she believes that solving people's problems is at the heart of both accounting and storytelling. Following her graduation, Deborah aims to blend her accounting skills with her passion for film to create a meaningful impact.

Delice Munezero
ASYV Class of 2023

Delice is a student at Brown University. Delice had always desired to be in a learning community and Agahozo-Shalom provided her with one. Delice was always a good student, but she was never introduced to the outside world and has always longed to see it. Delice participated in a wide range of extracurricular activities while attending ASYV, including leadership, community service, computer science-related projects, gender movements, theatrical arts, and traditional dancing. These experiences helped her develop her personality and gave her a unique perspective on various subjects. ASYV provided Delice with her entry way into her current life. Delice hopes to work as an activist impacting lives, or as one of Rwanda’s policy influencers after graduating. Her dream is to one day impact people’s lives in the same way that ASYV has done for ASYV family members across the world.

Jean Claude Ntambara
ASYV Class of 2018

JC is currently a senior computer science major, graduating this December from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas. He was born and raised in Ngororero, in the Western Province of Rwanda. He lost both of his parents at a very young age, and didn’t get a chance to know them. To JC, Agahozo-Shalom was a great family where he felt a sense of belonging again. It became the bridge towards the discovery of his potential and connected him to opportunities he never thought he would have access to. ASYV gave him a chance to meet people and get access to all of the resources that contributed to his growth. Through joining clubs, the ASYV volleyball team, and other extracurricular activities, he was able to gain valuable skills that are useful in all aspects of life. Following graduation from Hendrix College, he plans to contribute to the development of technology and give back to his community by working on projects that raise the awareness of the tech world today.

Giselle Fifi Nyampinga
ASYV Class of 2023

Giselle is currently a first-year student at Tufts University, where she is thinking of majoring in computer science. Before joining ASYV, she didn’t really have an image of what her future would look like, but by the time she reached ASYV, she found a family that held her hand and showed her how she could design her future. The ASYV family introduced her to a variety of resources, which allowed her to explore her passions and hobbies, which include scripting and acting. ASYV holds her love and all she has achieved today.

Livingstone Rwagatare
ASYV Class of 2021

Livingstone is a junior double majoring in computer science and data analytics at Westmont College. He grew up in a single-parent household of six. His life changed when ASYV provided an educational sponsorship, introducing him to Tikkun Olam—a concept that became his lifelong passion. At ASYV, he held leadership roles including debate president and minister of education in Student Government, and co-founded initiatives like Critical Thinking for Peace. Upon graduation, he started a college counseling program, assisting students with writing skills. At Westmont, Livingstone continued his leadership as co-president of both the Global and International Students Association and the African Students Union. Driven by his commitment to Tikkun Olam, he aims to leverage technology to improve access and literacy for low-income families, bridging the digital divide.

Diane Tuyizere
ASYV Class of 2023

Diane is currently in her first year at Smith College, where she intends to pursue her bachelor's degree in engineering science. Before coming to ASYV, she could not feel either the sense of her life or her future due to the hopeless life she felt she was living, a life that had prevented her from aiming higher. In her own words, through healing and education, Agahozo-Shalom made her feel that she mattered and made her determined to pursue a bright future. She is convinced that the future can be shaped regardless of the past. That is Diane’s mantra from Agahozo-Shalom, a belief that inspired her to study mathematics, physics, and computer science at the Liquidnet Family High School. This sparked her passion for being an air traffic controller. Diane is striving to spread hope among the hopeless while challenging what people impose as impossibilities. Diane plans to continue her education in graduate school, where she will major in aviation studies and pursue a career in air traffic control.

Parfaite Uwimbabazi
ASYV Class of 2023

Parfaite is a current student at the University of Rochester, Class of 2028, where she is majoring in biomedical engineering and public health. As a Burundian girl who lived in Rwanda as a refugee, she faced challenges in pursuing her dreams. ASYV illuminated her path, allowing her to grasp the opportunities she had long desired. While there, she demonstrated leadership as minister of health and wellness in Student Government and as vice president coordinator of Critical Thinking for Peace, among other activities. Through mental health mentorship at ASYV, she found healing and freedom, she found fulfillment in connecting with others, and she committed to making a meaningful impact on the lives of others through mental wellness awareness and community service. ASYV not only restored her hope but also ignited her passion to give back and contribute positively to her community.

Germaine Uwimpuhwe
ASYV Class of 2017

Germaine’s journey has been one of resilience, love, and purpose. With a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Seton Hill University, she is now building her career as a TAC engineer at Clever Devices, and dreams of becoming an expert systems engineer. She is blessed to be married to the love of her life and to be the mother of a beautiful one-year-old daughter. Her path was not easy. She lost her father at a young age, too early to remember him, and her mother faced overwhelming challenges raising four children alone. So, she grew up in the loving care of an aunt. Her life changed profoundly when she joined the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village at age 15. ASYV became more than a school for her; it became her second family, giving her hope, an education, and the belief that she could build a bright future. They nurtured her confidence and showed her what she was truly capable of achieving. Today, she is deeply passionate about empowering young women to explore technology and strive for their dreams. Her heart is set on inspiring young people in Rwanda to pursue paths in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and to believe in their own potential, as ASYV once believed in hers. With each step forward, she hopes to give back to the community the same hope and support that was given to her.