Our Team in Burundi and in the US
Team members whose names appear in blue, live in Burundi
Euphrate Ndayizigiye
Executive Director of Youth for Christ Burundi
Euphrate was born and raised in Burundi and now resides in its' largest city ,Bujumbura, with his wife Charlotte, two sons and a daughter. He was deeply impacted by the wars and genocide that occurred in Burundi when he was a child. His father was killed and the families' assets and property were taken. He has committed his life to bring about positive change in Burundi through the teaching of the gospel, promoting Godly leadership in young people, and providing for the needs of orphans as well as others living in poverty. He has, along with his staff, had great success. YFC Burundi now operates two orphanages, 3 schools and a medical center.
Pastor Arthur Manirambona
President of YMCA Burundi
Arthur is the associate Pastor at the Church of Rochester. He served as a volunteer at YFC Burundi for 2 years, served as a substitute teacher at Mount Calvary School, and started a soap business before reviving YMCA in Burundi. With a heart devoted to Christ and a calling to serve, he is passionate about empowering young people, strengthening communities, and caring for widows and orphans. He believes that true leadership is rooted in humility, service and love-modeled after Jesus Himself. Whether through ministry or community work, Arthur is committed to building others up and pointing them toward hope in Christ.
Juvenal Niyonkuru
Sponsorship coordinator of Homes of Hope Orphanages in Burundi
Amahoro is a word meaning peace in Kirundi, the language of Burundi. I would like to take a moment to introduce myself. I have 3 children and am married to a beautiful Burundian woman called Ernestine Nduwayo. I have a bachelor's degree from the National University of Burundi, in the faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Now I am the sponsorship and Homes of Hope Coordinator at Youth for Christ Burundi. Back in 2004, when I was still a student, I volunteered at YFC Burundi. Since then, I have worked at several organizations, most recently at World Vision as a Community Engagement and Sponsorship Plan Technical Program Officer. I was responsible for various projects related to child sponsorship. At the end of 2022 , Euphrate, our national director, reached out to see if I would be able and interested in working in the sponsorship department of YFC Burundi, and the rest is history! I am a dedicated and detail-oriented sponsorship coordinator with experience in managing child sponsorship programs, ensuring accurate data management, donor communication and child protection compliance. I have a passion for community development and building strong relationships between sponsors, with (letters, videos, photos and reports),their beneficiaries and collaborating with partners.
I mainly focus on organization skills, cultural sensitivity and a commitment to safeguarding and transparency. My goal is to ensure that sponsorship not only supports children's development but also strengthen families and communities in a sustainable and dignified way. Today, Youth for Christ Burundi is in strong partnership with GLO (Great Lakes Outreach) for the sponsorship of orphans living in the Homes of Hope and World Help. I can't wait to see what else the Lord has in store to restore hope for these kids. In the meantime, thank you for your continued support and prayers. They make a big difference. If you could continue to pray, particularly for inspiration and guidance for us as the kids grow older and enter a new phase of life, we would appreciate it. Join us in praising Him for how He has provided, continues to provide, and will provide. "to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves." Ephesians 1:6
Michael Kuyt
President of Burundi Orphans Inc.
I am pictured here with Juvenal at the Youth for Christ headquarters in Bujumbura. My hope is to travel to Burundi each year to personally visit all the orphans that benefit from the efforts of the people associated with Burundi Orphans Inc. I am a clockmaker by trade but a Christian at heart. I have 3 adult children and with their spouses, 6 grandchildren. I have been married to my wife Julie, for more than 50 years. I have been blessed in many ways, including by having the National Director of Youth for Christ Burundi, Euphrate, and his wife Charlotte stay in my home for a week last year. I believe God purposely made that happen so that I would come to know it was His wish for me to get involved in this mission. I have so much enjoyed getting to know the wonderful people in Burundi. Burundi is primarily a Christian nation. The depth of faith and dedication of these Christians is amazing. I am learning a lot and can hardly wait to go back.
Mary Willoughby
Vice President of Burundi Orphans Inc.
Mary has an extensive resume in both the academic community as well as in high level management of various not for profit corporations. She has been an adjunct professor in well-respected private universities teaching classes in human resources and compliance. Mary served as the executive vice president in organizations with hundreds of employees. She also was responsible for acquiring office buildings to expand operations to other cities. Mary will be contributing to a variety of tasks in burundiorpahns.org but will be focusing primarily on our unique program of sponsorship partnering.
Vic Rivera
Vic is a Biblical scholar. He is not associated with a particular university or seminary, but is passionate about reading and understanding God's word. He brings an unusual depth of Biblical knowledge and understanding that we all benefit from. He is a retired combat veteran having served on a Navy destroyer during the Viet Nam war. He also served at the rank of captain in the Army commanding a group of tanks. Vic lives in Rochester, NY with his wife Jennifer. He is always the first in line to visit someone in the hospital or to lend a helping hand where needed.
Pastor David Fesyuk
Treasurer of Burundi Orphans Inc.
Pastor David Fesyuk has over a decade of experience in full time ministry, working alongside his wife, Julie and raising two young sons. His ministry has taken him from the East Coast to the West Coast, including involvement in multiple church plants. He served as the founding Lead Pastor at the Church of Rochester for five years and holds two degrees in Biblical studies. A trained police and fire chaplain, David is also pursuing a degree in cybersecurity to address the evolving needs of ministry. Teaching and preaching remain his greatest passions, and he shares sermons regularly on his YouTube channel, Biblically Minded.
Charlie Roberts
Secretary of Burundi Orphans Inc.
I was born in 1953 in Buffalo, NY: the middle of 5 children. My father was a Buffalo firefighter and my mother, like most mothers back then, was a full-time housewife.
After high school I obtained an associate's degree in accounting. Because of limited job opportunities at the time (1974) I enlisted in the US Navy. My primary job in the Navy was to maintain the financial records on board ship. After 5 years in the Navy, I was honorably discharged in 1979. I then returned to school at Niagara University where I earned a BA degree in Business Administration. After graduation, I was hired by Harris Corporation in Rochester to work in their accounting department. Although I enjoyed working with numbers, my love for children led me to a career in Occupational Therapy where I worked in a school setting with special needs children.
I'm blessed to have a wonderful family. I married my wife Ellen, in 1991. She had adopted an infant (Ruth) as a single parent from Costa Rica in 1984. Shortly after we were married I adopted her. Five years later we had a biological child, Mary. She is now married so our family has expanded to include our son-in-law, Royce.
It was in the Navy that I received the Lord as my Savior. I heard a sermon on the sower of the seed and wanted to be the good soil. I surrendered my life to Christ in 1975 and have been walking with the Lord ever since.
Vincent Ndayiragije
Burundi YMCA BOD Member
Vincent Ndayiragije is a dedicated Christian leader and communications professional deeply committed to empowering youth and serving his community through the Burundi YMCA. Born on July 13, 1997, in Kanyosha, Bujumbura City, Vincent is the youngest of seven children in his family.
His journey of service is fundamentally rooted in his Christian faith. Vincent prioritizes prayer, continuously seeks spiritual growth, and strives to serve others selflessly, motivated by his commitment to Christ rather than personal gain. This faith-driven approach is the cornerstone of his leadership.
Vincent's educational path began in 2002. After earning his high school diploma in 2016, he gained valuable life experience before enrolling at the University of Burundi in 2020. He recently graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Communication in January 2024. During his studies, he applied his skills practically through professional internships at Bujumbura Brewery in Corporate Affairs and the Development Agency of Burundi in Communication department.