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“I was born in Rwanda and migrated to Australia in 2007. My journey here wasn’t just a move, it was a shift in my entire life. During the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, I had to flee and became a refugee in Congo for a couple of years. That experience shaped a lot of my growing up and pushed me toward humanitarian work. It gave me a deep sense of compassion and a drive to be involved in community work.

When I arrived in Australia, I had to start over.

I hadn’t finished university back home, so I went back to study. I completed a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences in 2013 and a Master’s in International Security Studies in 2017, all while raising children. I was pregnant, studying, working, and looking after my kids. It wasn’t easy, but I did it.

Professionally, I’ve worked with refugee and asylum seeker programs, served with the NSW Government in roles including child protection, and contributed to community capacity building for migrant and refugee communities. I’ve always been drawn to work that empowers others, especially women.

Joining UOW  program through JEINA Inspire has been a turning point for me. As a woman from a CALD background, from a minority community, and with my experience as a refugee, this program is helping me build my confidence and develop my skills. It’s not just about having knowledge, it’s about having the opportunity to use it. You can have all the skills in the world, but if you’re not given a chance to show what you can do, it doesn’t mean much.

For me, success isn’t just about making money. It’s about doing something that gives me a sense of fulfilment. It’s about feeling happy and purposeful in what I do. Sometimes, especially in community work or social enterprise, there’s no financial reward. You’re tired, you’re exhausted, and maybe not even appreciated.

But the joy you feel when someone is empowered, when you’ve made a difference in someone’s life. That’s the real reward.

This program is helping me reflect on what I want to do and how I can do it. I’ve started identifying gaps in services, especially for women. We have a lot of needs, layers of needs, and they’re not always addressed. I’m clearly seeing where I can make a difference, and how I can do it, whether it’s on my own, with a community, or through an organisation.

I’m learning that the original idea doesn’t have to stay the same. It can shift. It can evolve. I Accelerate is giving me the space to think clearly, to ask myself the hard questions, and to choose what I want to DO, not just settle for what’s available. As a mother, a woman, and a minority in Australia, that choice means everything. It’s about thriving, not just surviving.”