Illumineers Rising Across Borders (Intro to the Youth Programme)

Our beautiful Gorilla Highlands region is fantastically rich in natural resources — but too many people here struggle. Youngsters grow up surrounded by abundance, yet face poverty, corruption, limited opportunities and sometimes even war! These contradictions make it hard for them to imagine a hopeful future.

Across Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo, numerous young people want to start innovative projects and businesses, protect their environment, speak up for their communities and create positive change. But too often they lack support, networks and real-life role models to learn from.


We believe change begins when the youth are connected across borders, inspired and given practical tools. By combining entrepreneurship, conservation, creativity, sports, peacebuilding and hands-on support, we help young people build international friendships, strengthen community ties and become confident problem-solvers.

Vanessa Maheshe is a great example of such a problem-solver: a Congolese community mobiliser who works on public health and hygiene in conflict-affected zones near national parks. She views Illumineers as a chance to link conservation with economic opportunities like ecotourism.

Wish to see how our work looks like in real life? Check out Vanessa’s video diary from the 2025 Illumineers Friendship Camp:

 
 
 
 
 
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The future of the region depends on young people who believe in themselves and are ready to lead. When youngsters meet, exchange ideas and organise together, ideally at scale, they can make a real difference for peace and civic life in the region.

With such a young population, we see a powerful opening: imagine and build solutions that come from within the region, shaped by the people who live here.

Illumineers Mission Statement

We connect the youth of Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo and give them practical skills that lead to personal development, civic engagement and regional peacebuilding.

Theory of Change

When young people are given a safe, supportive and inspiring environment, they grow in confidence and leadership. By matching this with transboundary relationships and possibilities for economic growth, we boost peace, cooperation and security in the region.

Maxime Kabanda is a graduate of the 2023 Illumineers program and the founder of a Rwandan enterprise transforming the food system through quinoa production. He works with smallholder farmers to promote climate-smart agriculture that restores soil health and respects biodiversity.

Progress So Far

Between 2023 and 2025, we ran a couple of Illumineers cohorts in Rwanda’s Musanze District, working with young people aged 15–30. They joined the program because of its focus on entrepreneurship and international connections, and stayed because it offered much more:

  • hands-on Idea Accelerator workshops in collaboration with local enterprises and organisations
  • international Friendship Camps
  • seed funding capital for conservation and environmental business/project ideas
  • sports activities and personal growth meet-ups
  • leadership and digital literacy training
  • social responsibility program focused on Historically Marginalised People

Some Stats (January 2026):
project/business idea applications received: 84
applications accepted: 22
3-month Idea Accelerators held: 2
Accelerator participants: 55
weekend Friendship Camps held: 3
Camp participants: 61

Plans for 2027

Building on what we’ve learned in Rwanda, we plan to expand Idea Accelerators to southwestern Uganda and eastern Congo in 2027.

We also aim to launch an online course and learning community, so young people can keep learning, connecting and growing long after the program ends.

Vivian Achiro is one of the leaders of the Illumineers expansion in Uganda. A 2025 Friendship Camp participant, she is a climate advocate who promotes urban farming using recycled plastics. She organises community cleanups and educates her peers on waste management to prevent flooding.

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