ABOUT US

What is Reunion257?

The Burundian community is separated around the world and they lack a platform that brings them together. In the United States alone, here are over 40,000 Burundians across the country. This is why Reunion 257 was born.
This year, Reunion 257 has diligently been collaborating with a youth organization named Tuvugane to create a three-day weekend reunion full of socio-cultural activities and events for Burundians and friends of Burundians of all ages. All the 2018 reunion events and activities will take place in Louisville, Kentucky, where Tuvugane is based. Reunion 257 believes that in order for us to advance, we must first unite.

Our Mission Statement

Our mission is to bring the Burundian Diaspora Community together, to network, to promote Burundi's culture, and to discuss ways we can contribute to the development of Burundi and the communities we are currently in.

About Burundi

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Burundi is a landlocked country in the African Great Lakes region of East Africa, with a population of 11.5 million. Burundi’s capital, Bujumbura, lies at the northeastern end of Lake Tanganyika. The official Languages are Kirundi and French; Swahili is one of the major languages spoken in the country. Before gaining its independence from the Belgians on July 1st, 1962, Burundi was a monarchy and ruled as a kingdom.
The country religion contains Christianity as the majority, with about three-fourth of Roman Catholic, one-eighth of Protestant; the other percentage consist of Muslims. The economy is predominantly agricultural; with 30 percent of the land which is cultivable. Burundi's primary exports are coffee and tea, which account for 90 percent of foreign exchange earnings.

OUR TEAM

Annie Irankunda

Co-Founder & President


Annie Irankunda has had a passion for community service ever since her years in college. Annie is a founding member and the current president of Reunion 257. She has supported and worked with various Burundian organizations and initiatives like the 2017 Miss Burundi-USA pageant.
Annie works with Burundian youth across the United States and has been drumming with the Burundian Drummers of Atlanta for over 10 years. She currently serves on the Executive Committee for the Burundian Diaspora organization as the Secretary in Charge of Projects and Partners and sits on the Board of Burundi Development Initiative.

Dr. Juste Munezero

Co-Founder & Treasurer


Hello/Amakuru/Kaze Burundians! Meet Dr. Juste Munezero! Dr. Munezero is one of the founding members of Reunion 257 where he serves currently as the treasurer. He currently works as the head pharmacist of the Anesthesiology and Surgery team at the world renowned #1 hospital Mayo Clinic, in Rochester Minnesota. He completed his undergraduate work in Michigan and matriculated to Hampton University where he received his Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D).

After graduation he went on to do his pgy-1 residency at Yale and lastly did his pgy-2 specialty residency at OHSU. Dr. Munezero enjoys traveling (both international and domestic), music and has a passion for improving his home-country Burundi!

Clemencia Niyonkuru

Director Of Marketing


She was born in Kayanza, Burundi and brought up in the Tanzania and the United States. In resettling, her family took refuge in a camp then called Mukugwa and lived there for 5 years. In 1998, she came to the United States with her family on refugee status. She lived in Atlanta for a year and has been living in Nashville ever since. After high school, she acquired a business degree with a minor in finance from the University of Tennesee at Martin. She is passionate about helping people and making a difference in the world through service, networking and empowering others . She is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Incorporated and Reunion 257, where she serves as Director Of Marketing and assist in whatever else may be needed.

Her aspirations are to bring Burundians and friends of Burundians together to simply reunite, catch up and find ways to evolve our community and Burundi. She also hopes to one day be a business owner and accomplish her long time goals which are to build a legacy in which her family and community would one day use to evolve and make a difference. Clemencia’s hobbies include reading, playing and walking with her family at the park. She also loves to travel and her favorite food is Ubugari n’isupu!

Bertha Nibigira

Member of Fundraising Committee


Although she was born in the DRC and raised in Tanzania, she is 100% Burundian. Her family relocated to the US when she was 13 years old. She speaks Kirundi, Swahili, and English fluently; she is proficient in French. She is currently a senior in college with a Sociology and Anthropology major and a minor in French. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in International Affairs with a concentration in International Community Development after obtaining her Bachelor’s of Science degree in May of 2018.

Her dream is to work with the United Nations, U.S. Agency for International Development, the African Union, the East African Community, and many other international organizations. She loves traveling and one of her life goals is to have traveled to nearly all countries of the world by the time she is 45 years old. Her hobbies include reading, swimming, sleeping, and binge-watching Netflix shows.

Justin Ndaribamare

Co-Founder & Vice President


In…. North Columbus, Ohio born and raiseddd! On October 11, 1987 a king was born. Justin Ndaribamare of Ruyigi (Murehe) & Cankuzo (Murore) is one of founding members of Reunion 257 and currently serving as Vice President for this great organization. Justin is currently a resident DJ at Havana nightclub while also working full-time for Discover Card. His dream is to open multiple businesses in Burundi and permanently relocate there in the near future.

Justin also has plans of helping street kids in Burundi find a place to truly call home and get themselves a quality education. Justin hopes that his anticipated success back home encourages others to take the next step and make their way home too. “Nyumbani ni nyumbani”. FB: Justin Djburundi | IG: djburundi SC: djburundi1011 | e-mail:djburundi@gmail.com

Gamariel Nibaruta

Co-Founder & Director of Recruiting


Gama Nibaruta was born in Cankuzo, Burundi but raised in the USA. Nibaruta and his family were granted asylum to settle in the USA in 1998. He has always believed in children and youth. He believes that education is a social transformation for a better world. During H.S, he ran Cross Country and also ran Cross Country at the college where his team became 2nd in the nation. He earned his Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice from Kirkwood Community College and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration in concentration Human Services from the University of Phoenix.

Nibaruta is inspired by his own childhood experiences. As a way of (giving back), he has served in his community; over 5 years volunteering with Catholic Charities; working as a interpreter and translator, and volunteered with American Red Cross on the Disaster Action Team.

Belise Munezero

Co-Founder & Member of executive Committee


She was born in Bujumbura and brought up in Gitega till 8 years of age. In resettling, her family took refuge in Tanzania in a refugee camp then called Mukugwa. From then, she came on refugee status to the United States at the age of 10 in 1998 and has been living in Atlanta ever since. She attended Lithonia high school and also attended Georgia Perimeter College and Kennesaw State University pursuing a business degree.

She later on found out that God was pulling her towards working with children since a young age and that’s what she is working towards at the moment. One of the things she is passionate about is cultivating her culture of being Burundian which led her to being one of the Co-Founders of Reunion 257. Which is a non profit organization. It is put together to bring Burundians and friends of Burundians together to simply reunite, catch up and figure out ways to better each other and our beloved country of Burundi.