SEBINEZA PAUL

CHAIR PERSON & FOUNDER

Sebineza is a dynamic, dedicated social worker and family person known for his unwavering commitment to public service and social justice. His journey into activism was ignited during a visit to his family in Nairobi Kenya where they have lived for years as refugees where he witnessed the harrowing conditions faced pregnant women, particularly in terms of health. This experience became a turning point, wakening his to the urgent need for change. He determined to make a difference, Sebineza initiated this program aimed at empowering women through education, training, supporting maternity give.

Sebineza Paul is an immigrant from Congo (DRC), I grew up in Eastern DRC in South – Kivu province. In small town called Turambo, I was raised and that’s where I started my education, 1st and 2nd grades due to lack of security we always moving between neighbors’ countries. I am one of Banyamulenge people, if you have had the stories about Banyamulenge in DRC they are mostly seen as affiliated to the Tutsi people of the African Great Lakes region, and they speak similar language to Kinyarwanda (Rwanda) and Kirundi (Burundi).  The Banyamulenge settled in South Kivu between the 16th and 18th centuries, having come from what are today Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. They are largely cattle keepers. They mostly occupy the southern part of South Kivu province: the Fizi, Mwenga and Uvira territories. In the 1960s and 1970s, some Banyamulenge moved to Katanga in the DRC’s southern region. The region has rich pastures for cattle herding and is close to the large cities of Lubumbashi and Mbujimayi, providing business opportunities. However, in 1998, nearly 20,000 Banyamulenge were forced to flee Katanga after they were attacked for being “foreigners”. Based on these assumptions, the Banyamulenge have been viewed as foreigners and were denied citizenship in the 1980s. A decade later, the Congolese state sought to expel them after a parliamentary resolution to send back all Rwandan and Burundian descendants. The Banyamulenge have been targeted by Congolese security services and local militias in major attacks in 1996, 1998 and 2004.

In 2004 there was attack us I was at school; I couldn’t get a way to my house to get clothes I have to save my life.  because we were surrounded by the attach the enemies forced us to go the bonder of Rwanda where we were welcomed, they put us in comp that time I was just alone with others people from our ethnic group. Story short in 2005 I went back to my village to see my grandma and grandpa if they still live, thank God they were live. In 2006 I went in Kenya as refugee where I started my settlement in August 2008 immigrated to the America, and became an American citizen.