Computer Science

Bertin Kasolene - age 20 - goma, drc

Bertin wants to transform his community through movement arts & mechanical engineering.

 Bertin is the coordinator of two dance companies which utilize movement arts as a platform for personal and community transformation, training youth to become young leaders in the community. As a trainer for the Maendeleo Project, Bertin teaches street boys how to dance and says, “I want to give them hope so that they can make a contribution to the community and the world.”

Bertin also directs the Inuka Dance Company which facilitates the passing down of cultural wisdom and traditions from the elder generations to the younger. The company will host an international dance workshop in Goma in March 2020 called Hadisi Urban Festival, bringing together dancers from Senegal, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda for an exciting exchange of dance, arts and cultural empowerment. At the heart of the mission, ‘hadisi’ means ‘storytelling’ in Swahili.

A multifaceted individual, with deep passion and profound talent, Bertin wishes to pursue a university education in Mechanical Engineering in order to bring advancements in agricultural technology to Congo. With a certificate in Mechanics, Bertin has created the design of a machine to assist farmers in harvesting beans more efficiently. He is now hoping to gain the skills necessary to enable its construction. Bertin sees his passions for mechanical engineering and dance as closely intertwined and hopes to continue deepening his skills in both in order to positively impact Congo.

Bertin hopes to pursue a BSc in Mechanical Engineering.

Jacob Mutazimiza - age 24 - Binza, DRC

Jacob aims to empower farmers in modern agriculture.

He seeks to create an organization or company to advocate for local farmers. Prior to enrolling in the Think Africa program, Jacob started an agriculture project with youth in his home village. Together they grow vegetables, raise poultry and sell eggs on a ¼ hectare plot of land located 38 km from Bunagana, in a remote area called Binza.

 Currently, Jacob serves as the chief of Health and Sanitation at Think Africa. He is also the chief of the vegetable growing program. Before entering Think Africa, Jacob completed four years of nursing coursework at ITM in Rutshuru. He currently treats illnesses among students at Think Africa, as well as administers immunizations (primarily measles) in high risk areas due to the threat of kidnapping.

Jacob hopes to pursue a BSc in Agribusiness Innovation and Management at Bugema University in Uganda.

MUKESHIMANA Joyeuse - age 20 - Bunagana, DRC

Joyeuse’s vision is to expand the agribusiness sector within the DRC.

“I want to build the market in our community. I want to build a store to keep the things which we sell and sell it in our country. Many people are selling the Irish potatoes outside of the country and I want to make stores to sell them in our communities.”

For Joyeuse, the situation is simple. Farmers in the DRC grow their crops and then, due to a lack of storage facilities, immediately bring their crops to market in Uganda or Rwanda. This leaves families poor and hungry only a few months later.

 "The solution is to be building stores to keep the Irish potatoes and the other types of food such as beans, maize, sorgum.”

 Joyeuse explains how, currently, farmers go to buy seeds in Uganda because local communities in the DRC fail to keep the produce. Therefore, the creation of storage facilities will also enable seeds to be bought locally at lower costs to farmers.  

 "I want to build that store so that everyone who needs the seeds can come to buy in our country because if they go to buy in another country they pay the tax at the border.”

Joyeuse is seeking a $200 business loan to begin construction of agricultural storage facilities.