Our Strategy
We use a Christ-centred approach to develop, connect, and equip emerging and executive leaders who have the passion and vision to transform their institutions, organizations, and communities across Africa.
Our Values
Faith
We are grounded in biblical truth. We support every student, staff member, and partner in their journey to live and lead like Christ.
Empowerment
We invest in visionary leaders, so they can facilitate transformation in their own communities and beyond.
Community
We believe in diverse and trust-based relationships. We strive to foster regional, national, and international connections.
Service
We encourage leaders to serve with a posture of humility.
Learning
We support each leader as they continue to grow and catalyse transformation throughout Africa.
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
John 10:10
Our Story
Kurumbuka Leadership Solutions brings a bold new vision to a work that began organically seven years ago. Our founders developed the Abundant Leadership Institute (ALI) as part of The Wellspring Foundation for Education. ALI was led by a respected and experienced Rwandan community leader, Phocas Ngendahayo. Each year ALI carefully selected 20 to 25 educational leaders from four countries (Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda) who had a compelling vision to transform their school communities. ALI came alongside these leaders and trained them to expand their vision, develop strategy, build a team, multiply impact, and mobilize community assets.
As ALI grew and gained a broader vision, it was clear that it needed to be birthed under a separate entity with a mandate focused entirely on developing and empowering African leaders. Kurumbuka is now the new home of the Abundant Leadership Institute, and we are developing additional programs that will empower leaders, connect influencers, and multiply solutions so 10,000 African leaders can realize their dreams by 2030.
Our Name
The word Kurumbuka (Koo-room-boo-kuh) in Kinyarwanda means “to multiply.” Its original context is agricultural and refers to planting seeds and producing a harvest. We have adopted it to describe the exciting process that takes place when a local leader brings a compelling vision to reality and multiplies it by training others to do the same. It also represents the organic spread of a great idea from one African community to another.
Our People
Richard Taylor
Founder and Executive Director
Florence Ofwono
Uganda Country Representative
Emma Gamache
Operations Manager
Denis Akandwanaho
Trek Resident Leader
Phocas Ngendahayo
Africa Technical Lead
Jordan Koslowsky
Director of Public Engagement
Bethany Kramm
Marketing Coordinator
Rose Mushimiyimana
Trek Resident Leader
Sam Birondwa
Emerging Leaders Program Director
Dave MacDonald
Director of Strategic Growth
Gisele Umupfasoni
Admin & Communication Assistant
Jared La Mar
Videographer
Erica Asiimwe
Executive Leaders Program Director
Alain Bigirinka
Finance and Operations Senior Manager
Julius Kayitare
Operations Assistant
Why Leadership
We believe that real change—effective change—comes from within. Unfortunately a scarcity mentality holds back many underprivileged communities in Africa from reaching their potential. This is why Kurumbuka is supporting a growing movement of African leaders who want to find African solutions for African problems.
5 key reasons we are choosing to invest in developing and empowering 10,000 African leaders by the year 2030:
1
The Current System is Broken
We take issue with billions of dollars being wasted on well-intentioned projects that are conceived by external government agencies and international aid organizations. The current system is compromised, and it has fostered a self-perpetuating poverty industry that has sidelined the ingenuity of local leaders in favour of outside experts.
2
It’s Sustainable
We know that the quality of local leadership in any low-resource community is a major determining factor in alleviating poverty and creating opportunity. Empowering local leaders to serve their own people proves to be more cost-effective, sustainable, and replicable in the long-term.
3
Leaders Multiply Impact
We have evidence that investing in local leaders and helping them multiply impact, can help actualize some of Africa’s greatest opportunities.
4
Look at Rwanda
We have witnessed the complete transformation of the country of Rwanda from a post-genocide failed state into a bright light for the African continent and the world—due in large part to capable and committed leadership. We believe the same can happen in other African countries.
5
The Impact is Eternal
We know that the harvest is plenty but the workers are few. We want to be part of raising up empowering Christian leaders in Africa who make an eternal difference by becoming harvesters and creating more harvesters.
Impacting more people like Beatrice
“I found a learning environment that was safe, and I felt connected with everyone despite our different experiences and cultures. The Abundant Leadership Institute encouraged me and introduced the ‘Lead Like Jesus’ model, which has helped shape my life and also the lives of those I work alongside. We have adopted and modelled this concept in our school and the community.”
— Beatrice Bamurange
Founder and Head of Schools at Rise to Shine School (Rwanda)