Grace Ningejeje is a goal-oriented marketer with more than 11 years of practical experience in addition to being an independent consultant. She is an alumna of the 2017 Mandela Washington Fellowship and the 2019 Tony Elumelu foundation. Grace is an advocate for women and girls, and the founder of the organization, Uplifting the Girl Child. She is passionate about improving the lives of girls and women in her country and is fighting for diverse, inclusive and equitable quality education in schools. Grace has set her sight on finding practical, cost-effective solutions that can address menstrual hygiene by producing 'keza pads', washable and reusable sanitary pads. 

IVLP Impact Award Project: Turashaboye Project

Grace's project uplifted marginalized women in Burundi and her community by developing their financial capacities and rights to improve their lives. The project organized 20 training sessions and empowered 103 women in rural areas to become financially independent. Each training session in Mwaro province focused on relevant topics such as entrepreneurship basics, business development, how to access financial services and networking. The participants gained experience using their new knowledge by creating practice businesses in small groups.

As a result of the training sessions, girls and women were able to build their own businesses, boost their economic independence, and contribute to their household income. Grace’s project also increased community awareness of women’s rights and fostered solidarity among the women to create a support system that will continue promoting gender equality in Burundi.

"I hope to create a community that will [be] dedicated to empowering others through capacity building and knowledge sharing." - Grace Ningejeje

IVLP Exchange Experience 

Grace was a participant in the IVLP Project A Global Moment in Time - Reflection on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility, organized by the U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center.

Grace's exchange experience led to the development of her IVLP Impact Award Project: "I gained knowledge about how DEIA works in United States and in other countries, and it motivated me to act to make change and be the voice of those [whose] voice was stolen to impact my community."

U.S. Communities Visited

San Francisco, CA; Washington, DC; Boston, MA

"The IVLP experiences helped me to understand that inequality in the population is everywhere and each one of us is unique and has a value to add. We should be given opportunity regardless of who we are." - Grace Ningejeje

Country: Burundi 

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