Julie-Anne Savarit-Cosenza
African Education Program
Co-Founder & Executive Director
Julie-Anne is a dynamic and vulnerable leader with a deep commitment to community-led transformation. As the Executive Director of the African Education Program (AEP), she spearheads efforts to unlock the potential of African children, youth and adults by building and growing community-led organizations focused on quality education, health, and community development.
Julie-Anne champions trust-based philanthropy and the shift of power to ensure resources are placed directly in the hands of those who understand their challenges best.
Her journey with AEP began in 2004 as a 10th grader. Julie-Anne and three friends created the organization to provide books and computers to disadvantaged youth in Kafue, Zambia. Two years later, she worked with Kafue community leaders and youth members to open AEP’s flagship Learning & Leadership Center. During this time, she earned a magna cum laude degree in international relations with a focus on African development from American University.
In 2014, Julie-Anne transitioned to lead AEP full-time focusing on capacity strengthening and leadership development within the local Zambian team to drive systemic and community-rooted change. Today, she is driven by her love for catalyzing change makers and fostering new initiatives and partnerships in Zambia and Rwanda.
Lumuno Mweemba
Amos Youth Centre
Co-Founder & Director of Programs
Lumuno Mweemba, Co-Founder and Director of Programs at the Amos Youth Centre (AYC), has been a driving force behind the center’s mission to empower and uplift youth since 2014. With a deep-rooted passion for serving her community, Lumuno began her journey at AYC as a counselor and social worker, focusing on trauma-informed care and mental health. Her commitment to addressing the emotional and psychological well-being of the youth has been central to her work, making her an indispensable figure in shaping the impact AYC has on countless lives.
As Director of Programs, Lumuno oversees the operations of all departments at AYC, ensuring that the center’s initiatives are strategically aligned with its mission. She facilitates staff development, runs program evaluations, and coordinates college preparation and career guidance for high school graduates, all while maintaining a focus on improving the center’s overall performance. Lumuno’s leadership extends beyond day-to-day operations as she builds and nurtures partnerships, secures grant funding, and represents AYC at district-level meetings to advocate for youth development.
Lumuno’s visionary leadership is evident in her dedication to creating a safe, supportive environment where young people can thrive. She ensures that all safeguarding procedures are strictly adhered to and provides mediation in workplace conflicts, fostering a culture of respect and collaboration. Through her relentless commitment to AYC’s mission, Lumuno continues to transform lives, providing young people with the tools, resources, and opportunities they need to succeed.
Febby Choombe
Amos Youth Centre’s Read for Rose Special Education Hub
Director of Special Education
Febby Choombe is not just a dreamer; she’s a transformative leader in Zambia’s fight for inclusive education. Growing up with a deep passion to uplift children with disabilities, Febby saw the stark reality of exclusion faced by more than half of them in Zambia. Refusing to accept the status quo, she became a changemaker, breaking barriers to bring education to those left behind.
Her journey started as a teenager, accessing empowerment programs at the Amos Youth Center (AYC). With support from the African Education Program (AEP)’s College Scholarship Fund, Febby pursued her dream, earning a Special Education degree from the University of Zambia. But her vision didn’t stop there. Post-graduation, she returned to the community to launch the Read for Rose Special Education Hub, a groundbreaking initiative that is reshaping Zambia’s educational landscape for children and youth with disabilities.
Febby’s leadership goes beyond instruction. She is driving a movement, ensuring that children who were once overlooked now have access to the education they deserve. Watching her students thrive under teaching methods tailored to their needs brings her immense joy and fuels her mission to transform lives. Febby’s visionary work is laying the foundation for a more inclusive Zambia, where every child, regardless of ability, has a chance to succeed.
Nathalie Muhoze Furere & Paulin Basinga
The Moyo Center
Co-Founders
Nathalie Muhoze Furere and Paulin Basinga, Co-Founders of The Moyo Center in Rwanda, are visionaries dedicated to transforming autism care and inclusive education in Africa. Originally from Rwanda, they both experienced exile in the Democratic Republic of Congo before returning to their homeland after the 1994 genocide. Their journey together has taken them from the National University of Rwanda to Seattle, Washington, to Nairobi, Kenya, where they now live with their three sons. The diagnosis of autism in two of their sons shifted their personal challenges into a mission to improve autism services in Africa.
Their experiences in the United States highlighted the disparity in autism support between the U.S. and Africa, fueling their commitment to bridge this gap. Paulin and Nathalie have worked tirelessly to enhance autism support systems in schools across Sub-Saharan Africa, leveraging their resources and connections to advocate for the inclusion of children with autism. Their work culminated in the founding of The Moyo Center, a hub for training teachers and equipping schools with the tools needed to support children with autism and other disabilities.
Driven by their personal experiences and the desire to create change, Paulin and Nathalie seek for The Moyo Center to be a beacon of hope for families navigating the complexities of having children with disabilities. Their leadership is inspiring a movement towards inclusivity, ensuring that every child, regardless of location or socioeconomic status, has access to the support they deserve to thrive.
Ceasar Samwaka
Amos Youth Centre
Director of Academics & Scholarships
With a deep-rooted passion for mathematics and sciences, Ceasar’s journey began as a student at the Amos Youth Centre (AYC), where he earned both a high school and college scholarship, ultimately graduating from the University of Zambia with a Bachelor’s degree in Education, specializing in mathematics and curriculum studies.
His commitment to empowering the next generation became evident when he returned to the Center as the Academic Programs Coordinator in 2020. In this role, Ceasar demonstrated his leadership by spearheading the design and organization of all learning activities, including the successful remote tutoring program that provided uninterrupted support to students during the pandemic.
In 2022, Ceasar’s visionary leadership was recognized, and he was promoted to Director of Academics & Scholarships, becoming one of three Co-Directors leading the Center. Today, he oversees all academic initiatives, from tutoring and college prep to career guidance, while also managing scholarship applications and resources.
Ceasar’s dedication to education is not just about academic success; it’s about building a future where students are equipped with the skills and knowledge to lead and uplift their communities.