Who we are

Pictured: A Peace of Life team Rwanda. Photo credit: Johnny Lam Photography

Some of our Board and Volunteers include:

Gato Munyamasoko, Honourary Chair, Rwanda

Gato is the peace and reconciliation specialist in Rwanda for Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM), an international partnership of churches. Prior to this role, he was the II Vice Legal Representative of the Association of Baptist Churches of Rwanda (AEBR), and the Director of the Education, Youth and Health departments. He is coordinating the launch of a peace program in the AEBR schools.

Laurena Zondo, Founder and President, Canada/Rwanda

Laurena is a freelance writer and editor of mosaic, the national magazine of CBM. Prior to this, she was CBM’s communications manager before stepping down to launch this initiative to mentor youth in Africa and showcase their creativity and role in peace-building and community development. She has designed and conducted communications and art therapy activities with children and youth in Bolivia, Canada, India and Rwanda.

Michel Nsengi, Vice President, Rwanda

Michel is the Managing Director of his own company, Millenium Solutions for Development. He assisted in the research, design and implementation of Children of Hope, a pilot project by CBM and AEBR among orphans and vulnerable children, especially those living in child-headed households in Rwanda. He has recently worked as regional coordinator for a UN women’s project. He offers development expertise in this initiative.

Ranu Hamilton, Secretary/Treasurer, Canada

Ranu is a recent graduate of Humber College’s Corporate Communications program. She volunteers extensively on this initiative as well as youth-led organizations working with disadvantaged youth in the Toronto area. She helped to launch a youth newspaper and is one of the youth leaders at First Baptist Church, Toronto. She offers communications expertise in this initiative.

Johnny Lam, Director, Canada

Johnny is a talented freelance photojournalist who has travelled around the world to capture stories. He has a heart for projects that empower children and youth in the use of arts and the media and has conducted workshops in Canada and Rwanda. He offers creative expertise in this initiative.

Jean Paul Ngiruwera, Director, Rwanda

Jean Paul is a Data Specialist with Partners in Health in Rwanda. He has a heart for peace and the development of youth in his country. He recently helped to launch a peace club, Basic Brilliant Africa, among students and INATEK, a university in eastern Rwanda, and serves as the President.

Dydine Umunyana, Director, Rwanda

Dydine is a talented young Rwandan artist with specialities in music and film. She is one of the exciting new filmmakers associated with Almond Tree Films Rwanda, our local film partner. She offers creative skills and and a passion to use media and the arts for social change.

Special Advisors

In Rwanda:

Mr. William Mugenzi, peace communications

William is a dynamic, young professional who has co-founded Peace Watch, an internet-based web news, and Premier Communications, a consultancy company in Rwanda. He taught Media and Society at the School of Journalism and Communication, National University of Rwanda, and Conflict Prevention, Conflict Management and Conflict Transformation at Youth Solidarity Camp (a Rwandan government initiative). He has his Masters in Media, Peace and Conflict Studies from the United Nations University of Peace in Costa Rica.

Mr. Gaspard Safari, media relations

Safari has a passion for media excellence. He currently manages his own media and communications firm which operates in East Africa. He previously served as Editor-in-Chief of The New Times, Rwanda’s major English daily newspaper and continues to be president of the Rwanda Journalists Association. He participated in the first series of communications for peace workshops in the AEBR high schools and provides ongoing counsel.

In Canada:

Laurence and Kathy Cheveldayoff, administration and fundraising

The Chevys are former teachers and retired CBM global field staff, who serve as project mentors. For over 30 years, they have worked with churches in Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, (and most recently) Costa Rica, on camping and youth ministries, relief and community development, which included the development of a vibrant children and family ministry in one of South America’s largest slums (Heliopolis), and a training program in Sao Paulo (Brazil).

Carole St. Laurent, information and communication technologies

Carole  has a heart for bringing people together through digital storytelling. As owner and operator of her own IT company in Canada, she offers a rare combination of creative and technological expertise. She has a Masters degree in Information and Communication Technologies for Development and has implemented multimedia capacity building projects in Africa. She provides ongoing counsel.

Rochelle Williams, education

Rochelle is an experienced teacher with the Toronto District School Board. She played a significant role, as a volunteer grant advisor, for the African-Canadian Christian Network when they were awarded $3 million in provincial government funding to help fight youth violence. She has a passion for helping youth within the African-Canadian community realize their potential. She provides ongoing counsel.