Our Team

Executive Director & Co-Founder

I am an artist and humanitarian. I’ve been dedicated to the creativity of youth and girls, inspired by my own experiences of utilizing the arts to work through challenges as an adolescent. I was awarded my Bachelor of Fine Arts from Hunter College and my Master of Science in International Affairs from the New School with a focus on conflict and security. I’ve worked as a consultant with the Population Council, and Assymetrica.

With Colors of Connection, I have designed and implemented programs in Liberia, Burkina Faso and Democratic Republic of the Congo. As Co-Founder and Executive Director I am passionate about creating more space and value for collaborative arts, and artistic healing and expression in places where resources are scarce and traumatic experiences are high.

Operations Director

I specialize in health and community protection, working with adolescent girls and women to prevent and respond to violence. I am passionate about providing safe spaces where girls can develop their confidence, leadership skills, and share their experiences in order to fight against gender inequality and make decisions about their futures.

I’ve worked as a supervisor for the International Rescue Committee’s Women’s Protection and Empowerment Program, as a medical doctor focused on GBV response, and advocate in campaigns promoting women’s rights. I completed my doctoral studies at the University of Goma.

With Colors of Connection I direct operations in Goma, DR Congo, including managing the Girl Awakening Program, and training and supporting to our local women mentors.

Program Manager

I’m thrilled to be at Colors of Connection, using the creative arts as a tool for delivering mental health care in even the most low-resourced and highly-traumatic contexts, and foregrounding the agency and resilience of girls and young women.

I hold a Master in Public Policy from The Harvard Kennedy School with a concentration in Political and Economic Development. I co-wrote a thesis on the ethical engagement of survivors of sexual violence in research and monitoring & evaluation in conflict and post-conflict zones. 

I previously taught art in Kenya for three years and was a greeting card designer at a social enterprise employing women who are survivors of sex trafficking in the Philippines. I’ve also worked with MIT D-Lab in developing its creative capacity building program in Rhino refugee camp.

I’m a seasoned development practitioner with a multi-disciplinary background in art and mental health advocacy, and a passion for prioritizing the experience and expertise of survivors, adolescents, and women.

Director of Finance and Administration

I'm a finance and administration professional with over 13 years of experience managing financial operations for international NGOs in the humanitarian and development sector. I hold a degree in Commercial and Financial Sciences, specializing in Accounting.

My expertise spans budget preparation, financial risk assessment, cash management, expenditure forecasting, financial reporting, and tax management, as well as staff recruitment and performance management for national and expatriate personnel. I also manage partnerships and consultants, strengthen financial systems, and ensure compliance with donor regulations.

I've served as Financial Manager at the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Country Finance and Administration Officer at Fauna & Flora International (FFI), and Finance Officer for UNICEF's Ebola response in Ituri province, followed by a role in financial management with Vivo International. At Colors of Connection in Goma, DRC, I oversee financial and administrative operations and train and support the capacity of our staff and mentors.

Mentor Supervisor 

I supervise and support the mentors in organizing sessions, home visits and community engagement. I bring previous experience as mentor supervisor with CC since 2022.  I am currently studying at the University of Rural Development and previously have worked with local organizations in the fight against gender-based violence and the promotion of women’s rights.  I am passionate about team management, community-based projects and work that protects and strengthens girls’ security. 

Monitoring and Evaluation Assistant

I am experienced in implementing data collection and analysis tools, creating Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning reports and capturing lessons learned during these activities.

I completed a professional internship in the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning department of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). I worked as a field investigator and supervisor for various NGOs (CONCER, UNDP, and HEKS EPER).

I hold a Bachelor's degree in Statistics, specializing in Management Mathematics, from the Higher Institute of Statistics and New Technologies (ISSNT) in Goma.

At Colors of Connection, I am the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Assistant, ensuring the operationalization and implementation of the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan to support decision-making.

Community Engagement Officer

I have a degree in Clinical Psychology and am involved in humanitarian and community work. I have diverse experience combining protection, GBV (gender-based violence) case management, and humanitarian security.

I strengthened my skills in protection and GBV case management with DanChurchAid before working as a Safety and Security Officer at ACF (Action Against Hunger), where I developed strong risk analysis, coordination, and incident management skills.

I’m currently the Community Engagement Officer at Colors of Connection, where I work to promote community mobilization, accountability, inclusive participation, and stronger ties between organizations and local communities.

My background combines psychosocial expertise, protection of vulnerable people, and community leadership. I’m a committed advocate for social welfare and sustainable community development.

Administrative and Logistics Assistant

My name is Gael Chikuru. I am Congolese, originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I earned a state-recognized degree in social sciences in 2010. I worked as a day laborer at the ICRC before joining Colors of Connection, where I have been serving as an administrative and logistics assistant for some time now. I enjoy working as part of a team and am always willing to serve my community.