Democratic Republic of Congo

Olivier Gingweze is a humanitarian logistician and logistics trainer from the Democratic Republic of Congo, currently based in Goma. With seven years of experience in the nonprofit sector, he holds a Master’s degree in Electromechanical Engineering from the Institut Supérieur Pédagogique et Technique de Kinshasa and a Master’s degree in Humanitarian Practice from the University of Manchester. In his role as a logistics coordinator for the Norwegian Refugee Council, Olivier ensures the strategic management of logistics activities, providing guidance and technical support to implement logistics systems and procedures, and ensuring compliance with policies and donor requirements. He has acquired skills in fleet right-sizing, budgeting, and procurement planning through his recent nonprofit experience. Olivier has worked with various organizations, including BAT Congo as a spare parts storekeeper, Doctors Without Borders in multiple positions including Field Logistics Manager, International Committee of the Red Cross, and Memisa Belgium. He is also a logistics training consultant for Bioforce Institute, where he is passionate about greening the supply chain, promoting environmental sustainability, and empowering other humanitarian workers through logistics training.

Dr. Papy Kilongo Mulailwa is a motivated general surgeon with more than ten years of progressive experience in clinical and programmatic medical practice. Dr. Papy currently works at Partners In Health in Sierra Leone as the Clinical Services Lead at Koidu Government Hospital. His responsibilities include coordinating all clinicians in the various clinical departments and program planning. Prior to assuming this position, Dr. Papy worked for more than four years as a consultant and chief of general surgery at this PIH-Sierra Leone supported hospital. He was instrumental in improving the surgical care of patients throughout their clinical course, building the capacity of the surgical staff, designing and implementing quality improvement projects, mentoring medical and paramedical staff, and building systems in this low-resource setting. Dr. Papy also served in various clinical and programmatic roles, focusing on quality patient care, mentoring, and capacity building. He worked as a consultant general surgeon in Manisa, Turkey, and as a medical officer in pediatrics in Bukavu, D.R. Congo. Papy holds a bachelor’s degree in medicine from the Bukavu Catholic University in D.R. Congo, and a specialty degree in general surgery from Aegean University in Turkey. Dr. Papy is passionate about making preferential healthcare accessible to the most vulnerable and marginalized patients, especially through specialized surgical treatments. Dr. Papy strongly believes that strengthening surgical and clinical skills through education, mentorship, and systems building is key to achieving this goal.

Benjamin Shako has over three years of experience in the social change sector and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Sciences from the University of Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. While working as the Communications Chair for the Union for Democracy and Social Progress/Youth League in Congo, Benjamin helped establish and maintain the strategic direction of the organization, develop communication plans and messages for various youth league activities, and raise awareness about the league platform as a networking hub for youths. Benjamin is also a Thought For Food (TFF) Ambassador, where he raises the reputation of the food and agriculture industry to create a sustainable food system nationally and globally. Previously, Benjamin worked with a community-based organization, where he conducted an awareness campaign on Ebola prevention and ending child marriage in Congo. Benjamin has volunteered for several nonprofits, including the YALI Regional Leadership Center East Africa, the Center to Support Marginalized and Exploited Youth, International Youth Fellowship, and AIESEC in support of Sustainable Development Goals 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 13, and 16. Through these experiences, he developed strong communication, planning, volunteer management, and advocacy skills. Benjamin deeply values empathy, team work, and global collaboration. In the future, Benjamin plans to serve in an elected position to effectively promote solutions to address the social issues facing his country. He enjoys focusing on the topics of leadership, marketing, governance, and agriculture, and has a strong passion for youth and community development.

Solange Nyamulisa is a human rights advocate, journalist from the Democratic Republic of Congo. She earned a Bachelor in Journalism at National University of Rwanda and a postgraduate degree in Diplomacy and Strategy at “Centre d’Etudes Diplomatiques et Stratégiques” in Madagascar. Most importantly she is a proud mother of two daughters. Solange has eight years experience working in the field of communications, public information, advocacy and networking with media, government, grassroots organizations, Non for profit Organizations and international organizations. In 2007 Solange did a training of trainers in journalism with Tiziano Project which is dedicated to expand knowledge and access to information worldwide by empowering communities to tell their own stories. During this training, she produced few short documentaries that were broadcast on CNN. In 2008, while working as a Communications Officer for ActionAid in eastern Congo, Solange joined a Women’s Rights Movement called Sauti ya Maman mu Kongomani, (Congolese women’s voice). Her journalism background allowed her to play a key leadership role within the movement as the spokesperson for stakeholders’ outreach and public awareness. In 2009, she worked as a reporter and producer of documentaries and radio broadcasting for Internews Rwanda as a focal point for DRC within the project called Information exchange sensitization Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. These documentaries contributed in the conflict resolution and peace dialogue between Congolese and Rwandese people. Solange served as a Communications Specialist in different international organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme (Central Africa Republic, DRC), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (DRC). The materials she produced helped to increase the organizations ‘visibility, highlighted key achievements and contributed to resources. Starting in 2011, Solange volunteered for 4 years as a Communications Officer for UNDP in Madagascar where she played a central role during the electoral process in developing and implementing the organization`s communications strategy, including its resource mobilization strategy. Solange has the goal to develop a communications tool that will allow easy access to information and outreach on women’s rights, since she believes “whoever has information has power.”

Host Organization: Voice of America (VOA)

Role at Host Organization: Solange’s Fellowship in the Africa Division will engage audiences and outreach to the youth of our target countries in Africa. She will learn about the VOA, and its unique news gathering and broadcasting operations around the world. She will work with news production and broadcasting techniques, US journalism, VOA’s code of journalistic ethics.