Head office
Rwanda
Rubavu, Rwanda
Why Safari Strives Exists
Our Journey
Safari Strives began with a question: How do people move from survival into sustainable growth?
For four years, we tested different approaches on the ground in Gisenyi, from livestock and cash transfers to in-kind financing and direct support. Some created short-term gains, but none solved the underlying business constraints.
Then we realized something simple: people were already working and selling.
What was missing were the systems, tools, capital, and market access that help businesses grow. That insight shaped Safari Strives today: building the infrastructure that helps local businesses grow revenue, create jobs, and move beyond survival.
Practitioner-Led
We operate in the same community and face many of the same risks as the entrepreneurs we support. That firsthand experience shapes practical support grounded in real decisions, real constraints, and what it actually takes to grow a business here.
Corporate Headquarters
United States
Crestwood, Illinois
Board
Our Board
Safari Strives is governed by a board that provides oversight, accountability, and strategic direction for our work in Rwanda and the United States.
Lazaro Paruason
Board Member
Lazaro Paruason
Board Member
. Location: Rubavu, Rwanda
Pastor Etienne Nsanzimana
Board Member
Pastor Etienne Nsanzimana
Board Member
. Location: Rubavu, Rwanda
Team
Our Team
Meet the dedicated individuals who make Safari Strives' mission possible. Our team combines local expertise with global vision to create sustainable change in communities.
Elie Imani
Executive Director & Founder
Elie Imani
Executive Director & Founder
Leads Safari Strives strategy and strengthens the model through graduate research in African Studies at Yale University. Location: U.S. · Rwanda
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Manshimwe Josue
Program Director
Manshimwe Josue
Program Director
Provides strategic leadership and oversight of programs, ensuring they are effectively planned, executed, and aligned with organizational goals. Location: Rubavu, Rwanda
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Emmanuel Agyekum
Tech Integration Lead
Emmanuel Agyekum
Tech Integration Lead
Oversees the adoption and integration of technology solutions to improve operations, innovation, and organizational efficiency. Location: United States of America
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Carolina Alfaro
Outreach Lead
Carolina Alfaro
Outreach Lead
Builds and manages strategic partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and community outreach to expand the organization's impact and reach. Location: United states of America
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Rita O. Nwanze
Sustainability Lead
Rita O. Nwanze
Sustainability Lead
Develops and implements strategies that promote environmental, social, and economic sustainability while ensuring long-term organizational impact and resilience. Location: United States of America
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Elysee Migisha
Program Manager
Elysee Migisha
Program Manager
Coordinates and manages program activities, timelines, resources, and teams to ensure successful implementation and achievement of program objectives.
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Parfait Mbarushimana
Media & Storytelling Director
Parfait Mbarushimana
Media & Storytelling Director
Leads content strategy, media production, and storytelling initiatives to amplify the organization's vision, impact, and public presence.
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Rafael Peres
Economic Strategy Lead
Rafael Peres
Economic Strategy Lead
Leads the development and execution of strategies that drive sustainable economic growth, investment, and long-term organizational or national development.
LinkedInPartners
Institutions that believe in the work.
Safari Strives is supported by local institutions, academic partners, and international collaborators who share our conviction that communities deserve reliable pathways to economic independence.
Become a partner
We welcome partners with expertise, networks, market access, and growth capital to help us reach more founders and expand the Generative Enterprise Lab in Rubavu.