Board of Trustees
Laura Craggs
Laura has worked in the international development field for several years with the Institute of Development Studies, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance and most recently AVERT, an international HIV/AIDS charity. Prior to this she was a professional translator with NGOs and charities in French-speaking Africa. She has been a volunteer with rYico since 2007 and became a trustee in 2010.
Nicola Hategekimana
Nicky is one of the original founders of rYico. She met Viv at University while studying an MA in Rural Development. Nicky spent the early years of rYico living in Kigali while establishing Centre Marembo. She is now a trustee living in Bristol where she works with Deki, a small micro finance charity and Borderland, an asylum and refugee charity. Nickyraises awareness and funds for rYico through talks and events in her community.
Wendy Hook
Wendy first visited Rwanda in 2006 and began supporting rYico after a recommendation from a member of the UK foreign office who felt their work was valuable. She progressed from donating to volunteering her time and with a background in advertising, Wendy spends her time on our communications and fundraising. She annually funds a visit to Centre Marembo where she provides practical help to the centre and gathers information to share in our communications. She became a trustee in 2014.
UK Staff
Managing Director – Vivenie Mugunga
Viv is one of the original founders of rYico and currently runs rYico operations in the UK, she has a BA in International Relations and Culture from Sussex University. Previously, Viv worked in the UK with groups of young refugees, homeless and disabled children and has undertaken a variety of fundraising activities for different Rwandan charities.
Rwanda Staff
Nicolette Nsabimana
Nicolette took over the management of Centre Marembo in 2010. Nicolette is a trained lawyer and gave up her job in the city of Kigali as a lawyer to run Centre Marembo full time. As well as running the Centre, she spends a considerable amount of time working with policy developers within the police and government in Kigali to improve the legal and social policies surrounding women who are victims of sexual and domestic violence.