Carine Umutoniwase

Carine Umutoniwase is the Executive Director of Footprints for Change, a youth-led and youth serving organisation in Kenya with the vision of “a civically responsible youth for an accountable leadership and society”. Footprints for Change works primarily with young people between the ages of 10 and 25 years in Kenya advocating for constructive and sustained youth civic engagement, youth peace-building, and a culture of accountable leadership. Thus far Footprints for Change has also been able to engage young people in 16 different African countries under its Amani Youth Festival banner and worked with local, regional, and international partners.

Born in Rwanda and brought up in Kenya, Carine is passionate about the role of youth in peace-building and people-centered development. She is currently working on several youth-led initiatives and movements, including the Africa Youth Peace Network, Innovation Labs by IGAD Centre of Excellence in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism, Global Unites, and Amani Youth Festival, among others. Carine also acts as a board member for Salt Factory Sports - Kenya.

Carine holds a Master of Arts in Peace Studies and International Relations from Hekima University College, and is planning to pursue her doctoral studies at the University College of London and is thus currently working on her PhD proposal on Youth Policy Development in Africa with a focus on the Africa Youth Decade Plan by Africa Union.

Carine has also published with The CIHA Blog and was also featured in the 2015 International Center for Transitional Justice youth leader interview on transitional justice and civic engagement for U.N. International Day of Youth. She enjoys giving back to the community, traveling, swimming, football, writing, reading, and playing chess.