Educators Dedicated to Change
KIA educators are recruited from across the continent and the world. They bring experience in global best practice in education, including experiential learning, student-centered instruction and the use of technology to meet individual learning needs. The KIA teaching team models the Academy’s core values of resilience, service and excellence.
KIA’s Leadership and Teaching Team
Jacklin Saint Fleur
Executive Director, Village Health Works
Dr. Saint Fleur is an OBGYN doctor and an expert in health management, administration and operations. Before joining Village Health Works, he served VHW’s sister social justice organization Partners In Health (PIH) in Haiti for over 20 years in the senior leadership capacity. Jacklin also worked for years in many African countries for Partners In Health.
Dafara Nsubuga
Interim Head of School
Professor Dafara Nsubuga holds a Diploma in Science (Chemistry) from Mbarara University and a Bachelor of Science in Education (Honors) with a major in Chemistry from Makerere University. Additionally, he has a Level 4 Certificate in Child Protection and Safeguarding. Before joining KIA, Professor Nsubuga gained extensive teaching experience in Chemistry, Biology, and Physical Science in Kampala and Pretoria, South Africa.
Genevieve Pool
Pathways and Partnerships Manager
Genevieve holds a B.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, WA D.C., USA, where she specialized in Culture and Politics. She has a background in college admissions and English literacy, working in non-profits and schools in New York, Washington, DC, and Bugesera, Rwanda.
Leonidas Ntibinonoye
Deputy Head of School
After obtaining the teacher's diploma at the Teacher Training School of Rutovu, Leonidas got a Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Burundi. He has mainly worked in the Ministry of Education, then in the territorial administration as coordinator of community development and public health projects.
Emile Kwizera
Civics and Kirundi Teacher
Emile holds a Bachelor’s degree in African Literature from the University of Burundi. Prior to joining Village Health Works, Emile worked at the Ministry of Arts and Culture as an adviser to the Director of the Arts, Entertainment and Recreation. He has extensive knowledge of Burundian culture.
Angele Nduwimana
French Teacher
Angele holds a bachelor’s degree in French language and literature from the University of Burundi. She has been trained in the improvement of French teaching techniques, second language, teaching language and administration in Burundi.
Deogratias Ndagijimana
Biology and Swahili Teacher
Deogratias has been teaching different subjects for more than a decade. Besides being a biology teacher by training, he also teaches other subjects including Physics and Swahili. He is fluent in three languages: English, French, and Swahili as well as Kirundi, his mother tongue.
Augustin Nzohabonayo
Chemistry Teacher
Augustin has a degree in Chemical Sciences from the University of Burundi. He got his certificate of internship in Experimental Science Practices delivered by the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Burundi in collaboration with the University of Louvain (Belgium) in 2008. He has been teaching for 39 years.
KIA Education Committee
The Education Committee’s purpose is to advise the senior management of VHW on the mission and KIA’s performance. It will also advise on VHW’s separate efforts to address the educational needs of the Kigutu community. The Committee will serve as a repository for education best practices in Burundi and internationally. As previously mentioned, we have hired new teachers and administrators to help usher in our second class of students.
Léonce Ndikumana
Léonce is the Chair of the KIA Education Committee and a Distinguished Professor of Economics and Director of the African Development Policy Program at the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA.
Dennis Hanno
Dennis is a higher education leader, educator, and social entrepreneur. He holds the position as President of Wheaton College in Norton, MA, USA. Dennis is also the founder and CEO of IDEA4Africa, which educates, mentors and incubates young entrepreneurs strengthening society.
Rishi K Narang
Rishi is the Founding Principal of T2AM and is an advisor to DARPA, Planet Labs, AngelList, Hyperion Decimus, Mission Road Sound, McKinley Capital, and Equeum.
He holds the Board Chair of the Board of Directors at VHW.
Deogratias “Deo” Niyizonkiza
Deo, Founder and CEO of Village Health Works, is a leading advocate for some of the world’s most impoverished and vulnerable people. Deo worked closely with Paul Farmer at Partners in Health in Haiti and Rwanda. In 2005 Deo returned to Burundi and founded Village Health Works.
Jeanine Ntihirageza
Jeanine is a Professor of Linguistics at Northeastern University in Chicago, IL, USA. Her research explores genocide and human rights. She is the founding Director of the Center for Genocide and Human Rights Research in Africa and the Diaspora at Northeastern Illinois University.
JuliJulien Nimubona
Julien is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Burundi and a former Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. He earned a Master of Research in Political Science at the University of Bordeaux (I.E.P) and a PhD in Political Science at the University of Pau (France).
Yvette Nibigira
Yvette is a lawyer by training with a Law Degree from the University of Ngozi, and is a judge in the Anti-Corruption Court. She also served as a judge in Tribunal de Grande Instance in Bujumbura, and the Tribunal de Résidence of Musaga.
Daniel Ngabire
Daniel is a cancer researcher and scientist. He has lectured at the University of Burundi, the University of Ngozi, Hope Africa University, and the University of Mwaro teaching Molecular Biology, Genetics, Bacteriology, Virology, Immunology, Microbiology, Mycology, Entomology, and laboratory practical experiments.
Megan Newman
Megan is the Senior Vice President and Publisher at Penguin Random House, New York, NY, USA, where she runs two non-fiction imprints. She is a longtime member of the Board of VHW.
Elavie Ndura
Elavie is a Professor of Education at Humboldt State University, CA, USA, where she serves as Associate Vice President for Diversity, and Campus Diversity Officer.
Honorabe Janvière Ndirahisa
Janvière is an Elected Member of the Parliament (Député, Makamba representative), and the Regional Director of the Regional Training Facility on Prevention and Suppression of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in the Great Lakes Region.