Jean Bosco Niyonzima

Co-founder & Executive Director, Ubuntu Center for Peace

Dr. Jean Bosco Niyonzima is a Rwandan medical doctor, social entrepreneur, and expert in trauma healing and community-based mental health. He holds a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the National University of Rwanda, a Master of Public Health from the University of Liverpool, a Master of Arts in Sustainable Development, and a diploma in the Psychosocial Foundations of Peacebuilding from SIT Graduate Institute, Vermont, USA. With over 12 years of leadership and management experience in international development and humanitarian settings, Dr. Niyonzima has worked across seven African countries and the UK with organizations such as Save the Children International, International Medical Corps, Last Mile Health, and Partners In Health. His expertise spans health systems strengthening, psychosocial healing, mental health, and public health innovation in complex settings, with a focus on sustainable, community-driven solutions. As the co-founder and Executive Director of the Ubuntu Center for Peace, Dr. Niyonzima is pioneering a community-based social healing model to address collective trauma and common mental health conditions. His approach integrates breath-centered mind-body practices, collective narrative therapy, and local rituals, fostering deep healing and resilience. Implemented in Rwanda and expanding to humanitarian contexts, this model is designed for scalability and sustainability, empowering communities to reclaim their well-being. Dr. Niyonzima is passionate about advancing Ubuntu-driven healing solutions globally, bridging science, indigenous wisdom, and human connection to transform trauma into collective growth.