Initiative Genre et Inclusion Sociale (IGIS) is a nonprofit organization operating in France and Burundi that works with local youth to fight gender-based violence, advocate for inclusion, and build lasting change. It was founded by Destin Manariyo, a 2026 Aspire Leaders Program alumnus, and serves as Regional Secretariat for the Réseau des organisations des jeunes de l’Afrique Francophone (ROJAF) — a network of youth organizations across French-speaking African countries.
Through our newfound partnership, Aspire Institute and IGIS are working to expand opportunities for local learners and help them develop the skills, connections, and support they need to succeed while also fostering a community of changemakers committed to advancing positive impact and inclusion.
Transforming Experience Into a Movement for Change
Manariyo was raised in Bujumbura, Burundi, where he witnessed firsthand the reality of growing up in a country facing systemic struggles where many people lacked access to education and meaningful employment.
“I grew up in a poor country, so I saw how [my mother] struggled to raise the three of us,” he reflected.
His observations planted the seed for an idea that — even while lacking the resources needed to bring it to fruition — Manariyo kept with him throughout his journey.
He carried his vision all the way to France where he pursued a degree in Health and Social Sciences at Université Sorbonne Paris Nord. Embracing the opportunities that came with this new chapter, Manariyo began turning his vision into reality. He founded the Initiative Genre et Inclusion Sociale, drawing on the guidance and encouragement of professors and friends whose mentorship proved instrumental throughout his academic journey and the organization’s formative years.
Manariyo’s lived experiences became the driving force behind IGIS’s mission. The organization was built on three core commitments: confronting the gender-based violence he had witnessed, advancing the inclusion his own family had been denied, and creating sustainable, community-led change.
IGIS has grown steadily and now operates across Burundi, France, and the wider Great Lakes region of Africa, facilitating leadership development workshops, structured mentorship for youth and women, and civic initiatives that battle gender-based violence and promote inclusion. It works alongside youth networks and Francophone African civil society organizations to advance gender equity and women’s empowerment as essential pillars of peace building and inclusive governance.
Ultimately, its work is grounded in the belief that lasting stability cannot be achieved without advancing justice and inclusion together.
The organization gained international recognition when, in 2025, Manariyo received the Global Youth Leadership Award from the University of Oxford for IGIS’ work advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Expanding Impact
As IGIS grew, Manariyo sought new ways to strengthen its impact and connect with a broader global network of changemakers. That pursuit led him to Aspire Institute, where he explored opportunities to bring international knowledge, mentorship, and resources back to the communities he serves.
“Collaborating with Aspire is very important to us and will enable [low-income learners] to access higher class education and an international community,” Manariyo said.
Aspire recognizes the importance of IGIS’s work and is proud to partner with the organization to expand opportunities for youth at the local level. Through our combined efforts, we hope to equip more emerging leaders across Europe and Francophone Africa with the skills and support needed to create lasting change in their communities while also opening pathways for personal, academic, and professional growth.
Looking toward the future, IGIS’ aims to grow beyond France and Burundi and become a genuine regional network, one capable of connecting youth and women across French-speaking Africa to help build what Manariyo describes as a more equal and safer world. It recognizes that if poverty and lack of access to education are root causes of the challenges the organization addresses, then lasting change requires scaling its reach far beyond where it started.
IGIS also understands that effective solutions must reflect the needs of the communities they serve. Rather than applying a single model everywhere, the organization plans to tailor its programming to local contexts through activities such as in-person events and workshops in France and virtual programming in countries such as Burundi and Ethiopia. Over the next few years, it looks to strengthen its regional infrastructure across Africa to ensure its initiatives remain accessible, responsive, and community-led. Through this approach, IGIS seeks to empower local leaders while building a network capable of creating meaningful change across borders.
Interested in learning more about IGIS, the work they do, and how you can support their mission? Check out their LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/initiative-genre-et-inclusion-sociale-igis/
You can also connect with Destin Manariyo directly: https://www.linkedin.com/in/destin-manariyo-1b1433251/
