Christine Schuler Deschryver
Christine has called Bukavu her home all her life. She oversees all aspects of V-Day’s work on the ground in the DRC, including the City of Joy and coordinating campaign activities on the local, provincial, and national levels. She is an internationally renowned human rights activist who has worked as a teacher, an administrator for CARE CANADA, and, for 13 years, as an administrator for the German Technical Cooperation, where she oversaw a staff of over 100. She travels widely advocating for Congolese women’s rights. Watch a video interview with Christine.
Marie-Jeanne Bachu Bahati Nyenyezi
Marie is a mother, educator, and feminist. Her experience as an MP, Leader of Women’s Conditions Platform, in South Kivu, and a staff in international NGOs has given her first hand experience in the fight for the rights of Congolese women. Watch a video interview with Marie on our blog.
Eugenie Saleh Yohali
Eugenie’s well-balanced technical accounting, risk management and leadership skills make her an ideal financial and administrative manager.
Eliane Nabintu Furaha
Eliane is an artist who works with sewing techniques. Through her teachings, City of Joy women are able to make income with simple products and skills they can easily promote in their communities.
Pascal Bisimwa
Pascal has been a driver for over 15 years. He is reserved, calm, patient, and serious. He loves his work and he is always on time.
Neema Esperance
She is a well-organized cashier who keeps the cash journal, tracks all expenses, ensures that all required approvals are obtained prior to any disbursement, controls all cash vouchers before posting to the cash journal. She records accounting documents in the cash journals. She has worked with the director of city of joy for over 20 years.
Jean Paul Azanga Ebya
Jean Paul is one of our City of Joy drivers. He has a great sense of humor.
Marlene
Marlene’s action at City of Joy is based on 4 major tasks namely to make a regular analysis of the market according to the procedures established by VDAY DRC, to ensure the control of the supply process of the articles or commodities necessary to the progress of the activities of the City of Joy and the V-World farm, to ensure the transport and the general security of the two projects, and to ensure the supervision of inventory management in both projects.
Christel Kakesi
She does accounting with QuickBooks and fills all financial and administrative documents. She also manages the administrative files of the staff at city of joy.
Aline Magala Kiriza
Aline is a successful caseworker and nurse. She constructively deals with many challenging situations women arrive with. She also has a strong working knowledge of the symptoms associated with stress and anxiety. She finds it more satisfying to give than receive.
Pascasie Mawazo
She is a strong woman and keeps a record of purchased items and restocks the store accordingly. She ensures that the store is kept clean and organized. She is one of the women who built the City of Joy and has been more active in the group known as “ friend of V-Day”.
Patrick Lwaboshi
Patrick brings his strong critical thinking, project management, monitoring and evaluation skills to his role as Program officer. He is always ready to roll up his sleeves when necessary.
Florence Masumbuko Malungu
Florence has been working with people and families in complex social circumstances throughout her career. She is a valued member of the social work team.
Jane
Jane Mukuninwa is a Congolese women’s rights activist. A survivor who was instrumental in envisioning V-Day’s City of Joy project in Bukavu, Jane graduated from the first class and is now part of the City of Joy staff.
Security Team
Our security team oversees security. They always keep the staff up to date on needed security measures and take the necessary steps to keep the women and staff at the City of Joy safe. It is composed by some graduates of city of joy and some men trained in security policy. This is made of some city of joy graduates and other members recruited locally on the basis of their security keeping background.
Georgine Baganda Nsimire
Georgine is a devoted and courageous literacy trainer who has the skills to empower illiterate women to read. She is also the City of Joy babysitter.
Angelique Nsimire Ntububa
Angelique is a devoted professional social worker who is always ready to help women improve the quality of their lives and the wellbeing of their respective communities
Ndibabaza Ange
Ange is one of the city of joy trainer who have made giant strides in economic independence. After her graduation she specialized more in beading, knitting and embroidery. She was selected at city of joy as a trainer and is helping other women acquire skills for self-reliance and economic empowerment through the production of craft products.
Regine Kabichi Shamamba
Regine always smiles, even after listening to the heartbreaking stories of women. As a case manager, she lives by the motto, “career is a lifelong process”. She always learns from the others.
Divine Bahati
Divine is a trained clinical psychologist. She loves her work and is static in temperament.
Rehema Chofi
Rehema is a loving case worker. She is successful in handling personal cases of survivors of gender-based violence. She is the coordinator of the team of social workers
Marcelyne Bahizire
Marcelyne is well equipped in identifying and reaching out to survivors of gender-based violence. She provides good services and support to women who need mental care.
Rehema Evelyne Nibango
Evelyne is a good collaborator. She is interested in learning from others. She does her job with care.
Friends of V-Day
Friends of V-Day is local group of women who worked on the construction of City of Joy. The group cares for women and devotes time and energy to them by cooking delicious meals and helping with the upkeep of the buildings at City of Joy.
Furaha Narubuye
She is a good gardener and animal keeper. She takes care of the rabbits and the city of joy gardens to ensure that the women learn agriculture and animal husbandry in good conditions while practicing.
Mapendo July
She is the city of joy receptionist. She also helps keep discipline and time for the beginning and end of each course.