Stronger Together
Leadership
Hope Haven Rwandan is blessed with strong leadership, compassionate directors, well-trained teachers and committed staff.
Unique to Hope Haven, our in-country leadership is 100% Rwandan.
Susan
Hollern
Founder and President
Susan and her husband Kevin attended an event in 2009 supporting Technology and Education for Rwandan children. Her life was changed forever when she heard Bishop John Rucyahana and Immaculee Ilibagiza share about eh genocide, forgiveness, repentance and significant need in Rwanda.
In 2009, Susan traveled to Rwanda for the first time and in 2012 activated a plan to equip and serve families and you through education, agriculture and a personal relationship with Jesus.
Under her leadership, Hope Haven Rwanda has flourished into an organization the is now educating more than 750 children and employing more than 85 people each day in a strategic earning and learning context.
Liz
Ingabire
Managing Director
Liz is the Managing Director of The Hope Haven School. She has been in an executive position at Hope Haven Rwanda since the inception of the school, on February 27, 2012. She was recruited to Hope Haven Rwanda from a Rwandan University position as a faculty member of Communication and Media. Prior to that position, she worked as a Current News Reporter, Researcher and script writer for live talk show programs on Rwanda television. Liz holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication (BSC), a diploma in Air Cargo Handling (IATA/FIATA) and a certificate in Counseling.
Liz also serves Rwandans through the donation of her time as a mentor and board member of various institutions. She served as a Mentor at the Akilah Institute for Women and worked with the UN FOR WOMEN in Rwanda carrying out research on gender based services in Rwanda. She is the Vice President of the Board for Arise Rwanda Ministry, and a board member of Children’s Care and Protection Rwanda (CCPR).
Liz loves and enjoys working with communities who have lost hope due to poverty, by creating a positive mind set through the use of her personal experiences.
Fred
Karangwa
School Director
Fred serves as the School Director for The Hope Haven School. Fred is a professional teacher with a wide experience in the field of education as a Classroom Teacher, Head Teacher and Teacher Trainer. Fred was recruited from IEE Rwanda, an organization that partners with Rwanda Education Board and UNICEF in teacher training, where he worked for a number of years. Fred holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocational Education & Training, a Post Graduate Diploma in Special Needs Education (Kyambogo University) and a Master’s Degree in Educational Management (Bugema University) Uganda.
He worked as a teacher and Head Teacher at a special needs school in Uganda. He has also served in Rwanda as a teacher trainer/mentor in UNICEF child friendly schools and as a National Trainer with the Rwanda Education Board. He actively participates in training teachers in Rwanda on all three phases of the new Competence Based Curriculum (CBC).
Priscillah
Kembabazi
Director of Families
Priscillah, our Director of Families, has served at Hope Haven Rwanda since February of 2012. Her passion for our families and students is extraordinary as evidenced by her commitment and service to the community of Murindi.
Priscillah graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from the University of Rwanda, Butare. She has her Master’s in Social Work from Mahatma Gandhi University and graduated first in her class.
Priscillah is also a successful Christian entrepreneur. Her story is one of encouragement and amazing transformation. She employs many men and women in our community through her retail store featuring stylish kitenge clothing.
Emmanuel
Nsengumuremyi
Director of Studies: Nursery and Primary Programs
Emmanuel Nsengumuremyi, our Director of Studies has served Hope Haven Rwanda since February 2020. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from University of Rwanda- College of Education, Kigali.
He is skilled in the field of Education with professional background and experience in pre-primary, primary and secondary teaching. He has extensive experience in terms of teacher training and sensitizing parents on their roles and responsibilities to support teaching and learning of their children (Parental Engagement). He possesses technical support skills to improve capacity to deliver inclusive pedagogy and to support all children to a quality education in an inclusive way. He attended and facilitated different trainings and workshops on designing and implementation of Competence Based Curriculum as a National teacher Trainer for Rwanda Education Board.
Before joining Hope haven Rwanda, Emmanuel served as School Based Mentor in different districts across Rwanda. He has an experience of 10 years in education and has taught in primary and secondary schools.
Mignone
Mwiza
Director of Finance
Mignone joined Hope Haven Rwanda in 2016.She is a graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the School of Finance and Banking and holds a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.
Mignone’s first job was as a Seller of Shares for the Bank of Kigali, a commercial bank in Rwanda. She is a a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Rwanda, the only professional accountant organization mandated by law to regulate the accounting profession in Rwanda.
Mignone brings enthusiasm and dedication to Hope Haven where she ensures the school is properly following all of the best accounting practices.
Wendy
Raffaeli
Director of Finance and Development
Wendy is a Colorado native, a graduate of the University of Colorado, and an actively-licensed CPA. She has experience leading finance, accounting, and administration teams mostly in the private sector. She enjoys reading, snow skiing, traveling, and spending time with her family.
One of her greatest passions is poverty alleviation, both locally and internationally.