Refugee Youth Changemakers (RYCM) was born from a shared desire to give back and create opportunities for refugee youth. What began as a student-led agricultural group at EARTH University in Costa Rica—co-founded by Solange Ingabire, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo living in Rwanda, and Goodluck Mushi, from Tanzania—soon grew into a much deeper mission.

Moved by the challenges faced by youth in refugee camps, especially around access to education and mentorship, Solange envisioned something bigger: a movement that would inspire, support, and uplift young refugees through storytelling, mentorship, and youth-led action. That vision became RYCM—a platform where displaced youth could use their voices and skills to build brighter futures, for themselves and their communities.

In 2023, RYCM reached a major milestone. Through the support of the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) and the Mastercard Foundation, under the DREEM Project, RYCM received its first round of funding. With Solange serving on the project’s Youth Advisory Committee, RYCM held its inaugural event—a powerful three-day youth summit in Kiziba Refugee Camp in Rwanda. This summit brought together refugee youth to learn, connect, and lead, marking the start of a movement rooted in resilience, empowerment, and hope.

Today, RYCM continues to grow as a youth-led initiative dedicated to building the capacity of refugee youth through education, digital skills, leadership training, and storytelling. Guided by the belief that those closest to the challenges are closest to the solutions, we are creating a future where every refugee youth has the opportunity to rise—and to lead change, not just survive it.