Peacemakers
Meet our team
Bienfait MUGENZA
Founder & Director
Bienfait Mugenza is a visionary leader, social entrepreneur, and peacebuilder dedicated to fostering peace, social justice, and sustainable development in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). As the Founder and Director of Congo Peace Academy, he has been empowering young people and conflict-affected communities with skills in conflict resolution, leadership, and entrepreneurship.
Having grown up during the Second Congo War, Bienfait witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of violence and displacement. Determined to create sustainable solutions, he pursued a degree in Political Science at the University of Rochester as a MasterCard Foundation Scholar before returning to the DRC to expand his peacebuilding initiatives. In 2018, he launched "Peace through Entrepreneurship," a project that has enabled young people in Goma to create businesses, reducing economic vulnerability and preventing recruitment by armed groups.
One of his most impactful initiatives is Agri Peace, which integrates conservation agriculture with peacebuilding, helping internally displaced people (IDPs) and their host communities rebuild their livelihoods. His leadership has earned him international recognition, including the $50,000 2024 Projects for Peace Alumni Award and the $10,00 Davis Peace Award. Today, Bienfait continues to leverage agriculture, entrepreneurship, and education as powerful tools for peacebuilding and a more just, stable, and self-sufficient future for the people of eastern DRC.
Prof. JEAN CLAUDE MUBALAMA ZIBONA
Legal Adviser & Board Member
Professor Jean Claude MUBALAMA Zibona is a distinguished Congolese lawyer practicing at the Bar of Bukavu, advisor to the International Criminal Court, and member of the Bar Committee of this Court from 2012 to 2016. He is a professor at the Catholic University of Bukavu and the University of Cinquantenaire in Lwiro. He is currently the Director of the Cabinet of the Governor of South Kivu, in Bukavu. He is passionate about peace, justice, and human rights, which he has defended throughout his career.
Pastor Isaac MUKOKA MUENA KAVULA
Head of Leadership and Discipleship
Pastor Isaac is a multilingual educator and an ordained pastor. He comes to Congo Peace Academy with a leadership degree from Light of the Nation, International Bible College in Polokwane, South Africa, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Sciences from Universite Libre de Kigali (ULK), Rwanda. With more than five years of experience in organizational management and impact evaluation of humanitarian relief projects, Pastor Isaac is a recognized trainer for the national financial education program. He is fluent in French, English, Swahili, Tshiluba, Lingala, Kinyarwanda and Kirundi.
Shagali MUGENZA
Outreach Specialist and IT Manager
Shagali joined the Congo Peace Academy in 2021. He is a motivated and talented outreach manager who leads our communications and IT department. He is responsible for producing excellent informative content that engages our audience and builds brand recognition. He creates press releases, reports, and media materials for the Congo Peace Academy and Congo Dynamic Initiatives. He is an excellent communicator with brilliant presentation and organizational skills.
John KWIZERA
Associate IT
John works with the outreach manager in the communications and IT department. He is responsible for producing excellent graphic content that engages our audience and builds brand recognition. Together with his department manager, they create press releases, reports, and media materials for the Congo Peace Academy and Congo Dynamic Initiatives. He is an excellent communicator with sharp presentation and organizational skills.
Anita NELLY
Accountant
Under the direct supervision of the finance manager, Nelly is responsible for the short, medium, and long-term financial efficiency of all activities of Congo Peace Academy, including accounting, budgetary control, treasury, fundraising, banking, risk management, and auditing.
NTABANKABO AIME BAHOZI
Associate Director, Congo Peace Academy
As Associate Director of Curriculum and Learning Design, Ntabankabo Aime shapes curriculum strategy and oversees the development and delivery of learning experiences for the Congo Peace Academy. Aime has worked as a trainer for EDC in the IDIJ project financed by USAID. He is a dedicated educator who has promoted innovation, development, and management of education programs in numerous schools in Goma for over five years.
Eric OKOLISA LOKAMBA
Administration and Finance Manager
Eric holds a degree in project management from the Institut Supérieur de Développement Rural in Goma. He has over three years of experience in administration and finance. His role within the Congo Peace Academy is to establish reliable and accurate accounting and financial procedures to enable effective planning and use of resources for adequate implementation of activities.
Patric KACHERANGA
Head of Education
Under the supervision of the Director, Patrick coordinates and oversees the peace education activities at the center. He also teaches English.
Become Peacemakers
1. Accountability:
Congo Peace Academy prioritizes accountability as a core value, ensuring that all members of the organization are responsible and transparent in their actions and decisions. This helps to build trust and credibility with stakeholders and promote a culture of integrity.
2. Collaboration:
Another core value for Congo Peace Academy is collaboration, emphasizing the importance of working together effectively to achieve common goals. This involves fostering partnerships with other organizations, encouraging teamwork among staff members, and promoting open communication and cooperation.
3. Empowerment:
Congo Peace Academy also prioritize empowerment as a core value, seeking to empower individuals and communities to take charge of their own development and peace-building efforts. This involves providing training, resources, and support to help people build their skills and capacities, as well as promoting participatory decision-making processes.
4. Respect:
Finally, Congo Peace Academy adopts respect as a core value, emphasizing the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and compassion. This involves promoting diversity and inclusion within the organization, as well as fostering a culture of mutual respect and understanding.
Get in touch!
Contact: congopeaceacademy@gmail.com to get more information
