Hugues Hardy Ruremesha
Realizing Dreams
Hugues Hardy Ruremesha
NON-PROFIT FOUNDER | HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE | COHORT 5; BURUNDI
Hugues Hardy Ruremesha grew up a few blocks away from the largest garbage dump in Burundi. Street children gathered there daily, looking for something to eat. Hugues’ parents worked hard to give their children an education, but Hugues disregarded his parents’ sacrifices. He regularly drank and did drugs.
In 2006, Hugues met Jesus, and his life changed forever. He joined a youth club collecting food and clothing for impoverished families and discovered his passion: serving the community.
After graduating high school when he was 20, Hugues started an initiative protecting vulnerable children, empowering women and youth, and responding to emergencies. In 2015, political upheaval and violence swept through Burundi. Many of his friends and family fled, but Hugues stayed.
The hopelessness around Hugues did not deter him. He was aware of the challenges – child marriages, lack of education, addiction, abuse, health risks, poverty, corruption – but he was committed to living out the meaning of his name, Ruremesha: “the one who brings back hope.”
His initiative grew into a full-fledged organization called Jeunesse au Service d’un Burundi Meilleur (JSBM). In 2020, his team opened a centre offering programs and services, but they quickly realized that they lacked the resources to meet all of the needs.
Hugues was seeking new ideas, so he joined the Abundant Leadership Institute (ALI). At ALI, Hugues was trained in Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD). This was the answer he was looking for.
Hugues returned home, and with members of his community, he began focusing on what they had instead of what they lacked. Together, they began to discover new opportunities.
First, they went to the garbage dump and viewed the waste as a resource. They found creative ways to turn plastic into sculptures and household items like containers and furniture. Hugues says, “We started to transform waste into meaningful products. It was helpful for youth because they used their talents to make money.”
After identifying more assets in his community, Hugues opened a barber shop, painting studio, and sewing shop. JSBM trained youth to be acrobats, and now the Nanje Nobaho (“I can live too”) team performs around the country. Kurumbuka helped Hugues and his team realize that even in a slum, “There are talented people. They just lack the space and opportunity to use and grow their skills.”
Today, JSBM walks alongside more than 360 people. In addition to supporting income-generating activities, JSBM runs a feeding program, helps children with their studies, provides counselling to widows and victims of abuse, runs a library and computer lab, and mobilizes support to address humanitarian emergencies.
His dream for the future is to open a larger centre that gives more opportunities for members of his community to discover, use, and grow their skills. It will be named Enongo Marie in memory of a child in the community who died in an accident while playing in an unsafe area of the neighbourhood.
Equipped as an abundant leader with an asset-based mentality, we are confident that Hugues will realize this dream and many more.
Hugues shares,
“I’m motivated to give opportunities to children and young people so they can survive and thrive. I know how difficult it is here, but ABCD taught me that everyone, no matter where they come from, has a gift to offer. By using everyone’s talents, we can bring innovative ideas and empower our community.”
