Meet Justine—guide, graduate, and a woman led by faith and perseverance

“We were a braid of three people. It was beautiful.” – Justine

Justine was born and raised in Matimba, Rwanda, in what she refers to as a tight family braid made up of her mother, her younger brother Fisto and herself. Her mother, who had no formal education, worked hard to take care of her children—selling clothes and vegetables in the market. “She tried so hard to provide for us, but it was never easy,” said Justine.

Justine was sponsored through a nonprofit organization during her elementary school years, which helped cover uniforms, books, hygiene supplies, and school fees. But when both she and her brother were both accepted into excellent schools, her mother could only afford to send one. Justine continued with outside support, while her brother—equally bright—had to attend a school with fewer resources. Something Justine states still breaks her heart.

Detours and Dreams

“I didn’t get the government scholarship. That was one of the hardest moments of my life.”

After high school Justine was accepted into college to study finance and business but her application for a government scholarship was denied. She knew her mother couldn’t afford tuition. Devastated, but knowing she must move forward with her future, Justine moved to Kigali and took on a series of jobs, including waitressing, to help support her family. “Even while I struggled, I never stopped dreaming about going back to school.” During this time, Justine often sent money home to her brother and mother.

In 2018 she learned that Akagera National Park was hiring temporary guides. Out of 57 applicants she was one of just seven selected. “That’s how my journey started. It gave me hope.” She found joy and dignity in guiding, sharing Rwanda’s wildlife and landscapes with visitors and slowly started saving money towards her dream of going back to school.

When the Door Finally Opened

“I cried for the first time from happiness. I was finally going to college.”

In 2019, while leading a group from Africa New Life, Justine met Dr. Pamela Pyle, a long time Africa New Life board member. Dr. Pyle told her about Africa New Life’s Esther Scholarship—a program that equips young women in Rwanda through university education, mentorship and discipleship. Justine applied and was accepted.

“The Esther Scholarship isn’t just about school. They care about your faith, your mental health, your life. It’s the most beautiful program I’ve ever seen.” She started studying tourism and hospitality, combining her love for storytelling with her field experience as a guide. Throughout her studies she continued to work across Rwanda’s parks and cities—leading hikes in Volcanoes National Park, conducting city tours and diving deeper into Rwanda’s history and ecology.

“Those three years were the best time of my life.”

A Life of Faith

“Rwanda is a place where you really see God’s work in everything—you see it in every mountain, every bird call, every lion’s roar.” That’s what Justine—a licensed tour guide and university graduate—sees every day as she shares the country’s beauty with the world.

People doubted her when she started out-young, a woman in a field where men often hold the power. They said she was too young, too inexperienced. But Justine never let that stop her. Because she knows that God is with her, guiding her every step of the way.

Justine’s dream is to keep growing in her field, to welcome more people to Rwanda and to lead something of her own one day. She’s happy, hopeful-and at peace-with that vision. “I know God is with me,” she says, and you can hear the conviction in her voice.