Rebecca Davis

In founding and serving as the Executive Director of MindLeaps, Rebecca is responsible for the strategic direction, fundraising and management of an organization currently operational in six countries and with headquarters in New York City.

Prior to MindLeaps, Rebecca worked for The Carter Center (Atlanta, USA & Conakry, Guinea), Stage Holding Russia (Moscow, Russia), and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (New York, USA). She ran a professional dance company and a pre-professional training program in Philadelphia for five years known as RDDC: Rebecca Davis Dance Company. Rebecca graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelors of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship from Temple University, and she holds a Masters in International Relations with a concentration in Peacekeeping from American Military University. She received a post-graduate certificate in Ballet and Choreography Studies during her Fulbright Graduate year in Russia. In 2012, Rebecca received a second Fulbright scholarship to teach American Dance Culture in the Crimea shortly before it was annexed.

Rebecca has been recognized for outstanding leadership and MindLeaps’ potential to scale an innovative solution: how to achieve and quantify behavioral change through movement. She was a Carl Wilkens Fellow, a Truman Security Fellow, and a Gratitude Network Fellow. A sought-after speaker whose accomplishments are frequently noted in various news media, Rebecca has most spoken at The World Bank’s Human Development Week (2019), Segal Family Foundation’s Annual General Meeting (2019) and various universities. In 2023, Rebecca won the United Nations Federal Credit Union Foundation’s Women Empowerment Award.

Bashir Karenzi

Bashir, originally from Rwanda, currently serves as Global Programs Director, splitting his time between New York City and Africa. He started dancing in 2008 in the Inshoza Contemporary Dance Company. Bashir holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the National University of Rwanda and is fluent in English, French, Luganda, Kiswahili, Kinyarwanda and Kisoga.

He has been working with MindLeaps since 2014 and launched the 2018 program with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Rwanda. Bashir served as the Assistant Director of MindLeaps in Rwanda before becoming Director of Strategic Partnerships in 2019. In 2020, Bashir moved into the role of International Coordinator in which he worked to standardize operations across the continent of Africa and launched MindLeaps Virtual Academy to build leadership skills in African youth during the pandemic.

Bashir has had speaking engagements at Rahway High School (USA), World Outside My Shoes (Global) and Together We Remember (Global). Bashir has appeared on TV21 in North Macedonia, presented at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Sport Psychology Conference, and interviewed on Russian Pointe’s 5-6-7 EIGHT podcast.

Olivier Twagirimana

Olivier graduated from Mount Kenya University Rwanda with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Mass Media, and Communication. He is fluent in English, Kinyarwanda, and conversant in French and Kiswahili. Since 2015, he has been a MindLeaps staff member. In 2017 and 2018, Olivier worked with the MindLeaps International Team in Uganda. In 2019, he assisted the training of a team of 36 young refugee trainers to implement MindLeaps’ program in Rwanda in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. In 2021, Olivier led the Train The Trainer program for three months in Conakry, Guinea, to develop an extension program of MindLeaps in the country. In 2022, Olivier became the International Coordinator, helping to manage MindLeaps’ programs across Africa. In 2025, Olivier advanced into the role of Africa Director.

Yves Bisina Akonkwa

Yves is the former Program Coordinator of MindLeaps’ largest program by number of children: Dance & Data and School Sponsorship in Oruchinga Refugee Settlement (Uganda). He moved to Uganda as a Congolese refugee and spent over 10 years in the settlement. He speaks English, French, Swahili, Luganda, Lingala, and other local languages.

In August 2023, Yves and his family were resettled to the United States by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and are now based in Providence, Rhode Island. In September 2023, Yves joined MindLeaps USA as an Office Assistant. In 2025, he was promoted to Operations Manager, where he now works in a hybrid capacity supporting the organization’s headquarters.

Aissatou Diallo

Aissatou was promoted to Senior Finance Officer managing MindLeaps’ Global accounting in 2023 upon her move to Canada. Previously, she served as MindLeaps Guinea’s Finance Officer based in Conakry, Guinea. Aissatou holds a BBA in Finance from University of Moncton, New Brunswick (Canada). Before joining MindLeaps, she held a variety of finance jobs in Canada and in Guinea, including at Capital One, MK Leading Solutions Guinea and Groupe Kallan International.

Vedaste Ndayambaje

Vedaste, originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, grew up in a refugee camp in Rwanda. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication with a concentration in Business from Southern New Hampshire University (Kepler Program). He joined MindLeaps in 2019 as a Lead Dance Trainer in Kiziba Refugee Camp and became Education Coordinator in Kigali in 2021. In 2023, he was promoted to Country Director of MindLeaps Rwanda. In April 2024, Vedaste and his family were resettled in Australia, where he is currently based in Toowoomba, Queensland. He joined the global team in July 2024 as a Technical Specialist and now serves as External Communications Assistant.

Martha Bua Peace

Prior to MindLeaps, Martha worked as a social worker and an NGO administrator in Kampala, Uganda. She was Field Coordinator of Uganda Youth Empowerment. She has worked at Refuge and Hope International as a social worker in a shelter for female survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. She was also the Psychosocial Program Manager at Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS). Martha worked as a consultant for Playing to Live on the Care for Caregivers’ program aimed at addressing psychological wellness needs for front-line staff working in refugee settlements in the West Nile Region of Uganda. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Gender Studies at Makerere University with a special interest in Gender and Forced Migration.

Cathy Nimusiima

In August 2023, Cathy was promoted to the position of Program Coordinator at MindLeaps Uganda, Oruchinga Refugee Settlement. Cathy holds a diploma from Kampala University and also studied at the Ishaka Adventist College. She first joined MindLeaps as a dancer in the 2019 Train The Trainer program and was hired onto the team later that year. In her spare time, Cathy volunteers at a local government project: Development Response to Displacement Impact Project (DRDIP).

Emmy Turikumwe

Emmy was the first sponsored MindLeaps child to graduate with a university diploma! His journey began back in 2009 before the organization was officially named MindLeaps, and he graduated with a Diploma in Information, Communication & Technology in 2019 from Rwanda Polytechnic IPRC Kigali. Upon graduating, Emmy was invited to join the MindLeaps Rwanda team in Kigali and was promoted to manage the Refugee Program in 2022.

He is fluent in Mandarin along with Kinyarwanda, English and a working knowledge of French. In addition to being a dancer, in 2018, Emmy was selected by the Government of Rwanda to travel to China and participate in a martial arts training program.

Kadiatou Diallo

Kadiatou holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management with a focus on Corporate Finance from the Institut Supérieur de Commerce et d’Administration des Entreprises (Guinea). She began her career as an Assistant Accountant at SAGR, supporting budgeting and payroll. Since 2023, she has served as Finance and Administration Officer at MindLeaps Guinea, overseeing accounting, financial reporting, and payments for staff and programs.

Mohamed Lamine Bangoura

Mohamed graduated in Dramatic Arts from the Mory Kanté Higher Institute of Arts in Dubréka. After completing MindLeaps Train The Trainers program in 2021, he was invited to join the organization in 2023 and was quickly promoted to a Program Coordinator. In 2025, he stepped into a leadership role in the Education Program, contributing to program development and impact reporting through his strong understanding of the MindLeaps model.

Sékou Konaté

Sékou holds a degree in Philosophy with a specialization in Cultural Animation from General Lansana Conté University. A passionate dancer, he co-founded the hip-hop group Radico-Vision, which participated in national competitions. Since joining MindLeaps, he has grown into his role as Protection Coordinator, supporting the safety and development of young people.

“Being a mentor to youth is one of the best parts of my responsibilities. I think dance can help kids in this community make the right life choices” says Sékou.

Alioune Dioum

Alioune is the Education Coordinator for MindLeaps in Mauritania. He lives in El Mina close to MindLeaps’ partner organization SOS Pairs Educateurs. Alioune is fluent in English, French and several local languages. Alioune was originally a dance trainer and traveled to Guinea in 2021 to co-run the Train The Trainer program.

Vialenny Rosario

Vialenny is a Program Coordinator at MindLeaps in New York. Originally from the Dominican Republic, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services and is fluent in Spanish and English. She has experience supporting children affected by incarceration and is passionate about helping youth build confidence and resilience.

“I have always been passionate about helping youth become the best version of themselves because I see parts of my own journey reflected in them” Says Vialenny.