Staff
Get to know our team
Dennis Hanno
Founder and President
Dennis is the President of Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts. IDEA4Africa is an extension of the work Dennis has been engaged in for almost two decades educating, mentoring and incubating young entrepreneurs who are solving problems and ultimately changing the country’s economy. Since 2000, hundreds of college and university students, alumni, staff and professors have traveled with Dennis to Sub-Saharan Africa to teach entrepreneurship to high school students, community members, and small business owners.
Email: [email protected]
Sarah Boorstyn Schwartz
Chief Operating Officer
Sarah came to IDEA4Africa after teaching for several years in the Babson Entrepreneurial Leadership Academy based Rwanda. In 2015/2016, Sarah had the opportunity to lead Babson students, along with alumni and staff, to Tanzania to teach entrepreneurial skills to high school students and their teachers.
Email: [email protected]
Pamela Munyana
Country Director, Rwanda
Pamela Munyana is a Rwandan social entrepreneur with several years of international experience working with social impact institutions and especially ones that target children, youth and vulnerable groups of society. Prior to joining IDEA4Africa as the Rwanda country director, Pamela worked as a teaching assistant at the United International College (UIC) in Zhuhai, China. During her time at UIC, she taught different subjects including world cultures, entrepreneurship across cultures and English.
Email: [email protected]
Elizabeth Nakato
Country Director, Uganda
Elizabeth (Betty) Nakato earned her B.S in Business Administration from Babson College December of 2013 and moved to Boulder, CO where she spent a year working with a business accelerator program for young entrepreneur from around the globe. She focused on recruiting and partnership building with peer organizations.
Théogѐne Hategekimana
Rwanda Teacher Organizer
Theogene is the teacher organizer for IDEA4Africa. He graduated from Kibungo University in 2006 with a degree in education. In 2008 he became dean of Communication at Ecole Technique Saint Kizito Musha. From there Theogene went for a Master’s degree in business management from Kable University in Uganda which he completed in 2013.
Richard Ngoga
Rwanda Project Coordinator
Richard Ngoga was born and raised in Rwanda. Before joining the IDEA4Africa team, Richard co-founded and ran operations for HAND CRAFT AND DESIGN shop. He has a passion for entrepreneurship education through mentoring and loves working with women’s cooperatives.
Alice Ingabire
Rwanda PR Coordinator Intern
Alice is currently completing her bachelor’s degree in computer science in the Information Technology Department at the University of Kigali. Prior to working with IDEA4Africa, Alice worked as a Customer Care and Marketing Agent in Master Steel Ltd where she assisted customers with their queries and complaints and met the sales target of the company.
Patrick Ndikumana
Rwanda Operations Director
As Operations Director, Patrick ensures the smooth continuation of current projects and works on the expansion of our programs. Patrick is completing his post graduate work in Education Leadership and is currently seeking a Micro Masters in Data, Economics and Development Policy. Patrick was the co-founder of YSSB, a youth engagement organization in Burundi and Love and Hands in Rwanda. He interned at IFAD, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, enabling poor rural people to overcome poverty in Burundi.
Jean-Luc Nshimyimana
Rwanda Financial Coordinator
Jean-Luc has been working for IDEA4Africa as the financial coordinator. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Economics from Bugema University situated in Uganda. Prior to joining the IDEA4Africa team, he worked with various organizations in Rwanda as a Financial Manager where he handled all aspects of Finance from financial management to financial planning. Jean-Luc is a mathematical star who keeps a pragmatic approach to his work.
Linda Nakayiwa
Uganda High Coordinator
Linda holds a Bachelors’ Degree in Development Studies from Uganda Christian University, Mukono, and a Certificate in Teacher Training by Intel Corporation. Linda comes to us from KiBO Foundation an NGO that works to empower communities through Technology, Leadership and Entrepreneurship. During her time with KiBO Linda managed different projects including Intel Corporation, She Will Connect, and the African Alliance of Young Men Christian Association.
Aristarque (Aris) Ashige
Uganda Refugee Camp Coordinator
Growing up in the Congo, Aristarque fled violence in 2014 and joined the rest of his family in Uganda where they currently reside in the Nakivale Refugee Camp. A true entrepreneur, Aristarque is a financial knowledge activist, human rights defender, and an English teacher. Aristarque studied Law, Economics and Finance at the University of Goma (UNIGOM) in Congo.