Under the theme “BAOBAB ON THE RISE – NURTURING AFRICA’S FUTURE THROUGH ITS YOUTH,” the BAOBAB Summit 2025 brought together young African leaders committed to transforming the continent.
Among them was the Vice President and Alternate Legal Representative of the Forum pour la Mémoire Vigilante (FMV), Ir Réverien Gahimbare, who is currently pursuing a specialization in On-site Sanitation at the International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering (2iE) in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, with support from the MasterCard Foundation.
Although he participated as a MasterCard Foundation scholar and a Burundian refugee living in Rwanda, he seized this opportunity to highlight the values, mission, and achievements of FMV—an organization he co-founded and proudly represents.
As one of the “Speak Your Mind Contest Winners,” Ir Réverien Gahimbare, delivered a compelling speech urging Africa to change its perception of refugees and forcibly displaced persons. He emphasized that they should not be seen merely as aid beneficiaries but as economic actors, wealth creators, and builders of the continent’s future. He reminded the audience that across Africa, refugees and displaced persons already contribute to local development through entrepreneurship, training, and community solidarity.
This message perfectly embodies the spirit of FMV, whose motto remains: “Remember to Heal, Educate to Prevent, Act to Build Peace.”
FMV applauds this inspiring intervention, which showcases the strength of African refugee youth and highlights Rwanda’s vital role as a host country offering real opportunities for reconstruction and human development. The journey of this young leader—born in Burundi, welcomed in Rwanda, and trained in Burkina Faso—illustrates the resilience and constructive mobility of African youth.
FMV expresses its deep gratitude to the MasterCard Foundation, whose support for education continues to transform the lives of countless young Africans, and to Spirit In Action (https://www.spiritinaction.org/), a loyal partner that strengthens FMV’s capacity to act with dignity and impact in Rwanda.
This remarkable moment at the BAOBAB Summit 2025 serves as a reminder that Africa’s future will be built by all its children—refugees, displaced persons, youth, and women—united by the will to create a society that is inclusive and sustainable.
Some pictures from Nairobi’s activity:
