Jean de Dieu Ndayishimiye was born in rural Burundi to a cultivators’ family. He holds a Bachelor of Communications in Business from Southern New Hampshire University. He is equipped with exceptional oral and written communications skills, and skills to be an engaged and respectful listener.

A tailor and fashion designer by profession, he possesses tangible skills in the production and design of male and female clothing, and the business skills required to work with large customers. He honed his skills by working with various fashion design houses, including Sol&Wax located in Rwanda in 2020.

He is deeply committed to making the world a more equal and just place by empowering the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people, especially in rural areas. This includes providing them with income-generating and practical skills. He recently founded UMWIZERO, a Kirundi word meaning hope, to provide training in tailoring, entrepreneurship, and the fundamentals of digital literacy to marginalized groups, like homeless and orphaned children.

He served in leadership positions during university and attended numerous leadership conferences. He also worked as a Sales Representative for Zebra Electronics, a leading Burundian technology company and is serving as the programme manager for a scholarship initiative run by the Tujenge Africa Foundation, a Burundian leadership academy of which he is a proud alumnus.

Through his studies, Jean de Dieu hopes to advance his understanding of how he can use his education, passion, and skills to create a more just environment for all.