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About YBSP Canada

An independent Canadian poverty-relief and opportunity organization committed to reducing barriers through education, skills development, mentorship and community support.

Organizational History

Our Story & Bilateral Roots

From grassroots community action in East Africa to federal incorporation in Canada, YBSP's purpose has remained constant: reducing disadvantage and expanding human potential.

Founded in Burundi in 2011, Youth Building in Synergy to end Poverty (YBSP) began as a voluntary humanitarian initiative led by passionate young people. Confronted with widespread poverty, street homelessness among youth, and severe barriers to education, the founding team mobilized community donations to support orphanages, provide Sunday meals, supply school kits (#SororaIkaye), and provide starter toolkits for young artisans (#MurabireKazoza).

Recognizing that economic vulnerability and systemic barriers to opportunity also deeply impact individuals, youth, and families in Canadian communities, YBSP Canada was federally incorporated under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act in 2019 (Corporation # 1154010-6).

Today, YBSP Canada operates as an autonomous, volunteer-led Canadian non-profit organization building its first program pilots, community partnerships, and governance foundation in preparation for future charitable registration. Our Canadian work is growing progressively from a community-based foundation in the Ottawa - Gatineau region rather than an established full-time operating structure, while maintaining a meaningful connection to our founding history.

Core Purpose

Mission & Mandate

"YBSP Canada works to relieve poverty and reduce barriers to opportunity by providing education, community support, mentorship, skills development and pathways toward employment, entrepreneurship and greater self-sufficiency."

We focus particularly on youth and individuals facing social and economic disadvantage, while working with community partners to create practical opportunities for people to learn, participate, contribute and build more secure futures.

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Poverty Relief

Addressing immediate community needs, food insecurity, and practical barriers to dignified community participation.

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Education & Skills

Equipping youth and disadvantaged individuals with essential career, digital, financial, and workplace literacy.

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Self-Sufficiency

Building viable employment preparation and entrepreneurship pathways toward long-term economic independence.

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Community Synergy

Fostering civic collaboration across Canada while maintaining authentic bilateral solidarity with YBSP Burundi.

Operations & Delivery

Executive Leadership Team

Responsible for day-to-day program delivery, operations, partnerships, and community engagement across Canada.

Leis Bruel Haragirimana Executive Leadership

Leis Bruel Haragirimana

Founder & Executive Director

Leads overarching operational strategy, youth career mentorship cohorts, and bilateral cooperation with YBSP Burundi. Brings extensive professional experience in public sector enterprise resource management systems, business analysis, and non-profit administration.

Responsibility: Strategy, Operational Management & Bilateral Synergy
Samuel Awoute Executive Leadership

Samuel Awoute

Director of Finance & Administration (CFO)

Responsible for financial controllership, budgeting, statutory accounting standards under the Canada NFP Act, annual filing preparation, and grant expenditure tracking.

Responsibility: Financial Compliance, Accounting & Internal Controls
Dossy Roxana Igiraneza Executive Leadership

Dossy Roxana Igiraneza

Director of Programs & Youth Mentorship

Directs YBSP Canada's youth mentorship cohorts, practical skills curriculum development, and participant outcome tracking across Canada. Brings strategic expertise in community development, educational program delivery, and youth empowerment frameworks.

Responsibility: Cohort Delivery, Curriculum & Youth Mentorship
Faustin Nimbona Executive Leadership

Faustin Nimbona

Director of Partnerships & Development

Directs institutional partnerships, corporate sponsorships, and philanthropic development across Canada. Brings strategic expertise in stakeholder engagement, community resource mobilization, and donor relations.

Responsibility: Corporate Partnerships, Major Giving & Philanthropy
Khely Iradukunda Executive Leadership

Khely Iradukunda

Communications & Digital Media Lead

Coordinates official bilingual storytelling, digital content, social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, Snapchat), press releases, and quarterly community dispatches across Canada.

Responsibility: Bilingual Communications, Social Media & Media Engagement
Ange Olia Gateka Executive Leadership

Ange Olia Gateka

Bilateral Projects Coordinator

Manages operational communication with YBSP Burundi project leaders, monitoring delivery logs for vocational toolkits, school sponsorships, and women's cooperatives.

Responsibility: International Liaison & Project Documentation
Fiduciary Oversight

Board of Directors

Pursuant to Section 8 of our Articles of Incorporation, our Board of Directors serves on a voluntary, non-remunerated basis, providing independent fiduciary oversight and approving organizational budgets under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act.

Yves Dushime Board Director

Yves Dushime

Director & Community Liaison

Dedicated community organizer focused on grassroots civic mobilization, stakeholder partnerships, and youth engagement strategies across Canadian communities. Provides strategic oversight on community representation.

Governance Role: Community Engagement & Stakeholder Oversight
Trésor Nishimwe Board Director

Trésor Nishimwe

Director & Strategic Partnerships

Brings valuable strategic experience in community program development, civic stakeholder collaboration, and non-profit administration. Participates in board oversight of programmatic integrity, volunteer initiatives, and statutory compliance under federal law.

Governance Role: Strategic Partnerships & Operational Oversight
Leis Bruel Haragirimana Founder & Board Director

Leis Bruel Haragirimana

Founder & Board Member

Founder of YBSP in 2011 and established YBSP Canada in 2019. Serves on the Board of Directors providing overarching institutional continuity, strategic vision, and fiduciary leadership under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act.

Governance Role: Institutional Continuity & Strategic Leadership
Statutory Records

Corporate Information & Transparency

YBSP Canada adheres to the statutory disclosure standards set forth under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act. Below is our verified federal corporate registry record.

Legal Corporate Name Youth Building in Synergy to end Poverty (YBSP Canada)
Governing Statute Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act (NFP Act)
Corporation Number 1154010-6 (Corporations Canada)
Business Number (BN) 779321272RC0001 (Canada Revenue Agency)
Corporation Type Federal Not-for-Profit Corporation (Non-soliciting)
Board Remuneration $0.00 (Directors serve strictly on a voluntary, non-remunerated basis)
Legal Status Federally Incorporated Non-Profit Corporation (Not a registered charity under the Income Tax Act; official regulatory disclosure and filings available for public review)
📄 Download Annual Regulatory Disclosure Statement (PDF)
Two Independent Organizations

Two Organizations. One Shared History. Complementary Work.

YBSP Canada and YBSP Burundi share a common history and commitment to reducing poverty and expanding opportunity. Each organization operates according to its own legal, governance and operational responsibilities.

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YBSP Canada

Independent Canadian Entity

YBSP Canada is an independent Canadian nonprofit organization focused on reducing poverty, expanding opportunity and strengthening communities in Canada, while supporting appropriate international initiatives.

Incorporated federally under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act to deliver practical community support, skills development, and self-sufficiency programs across Canadian communities.

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YBSP Burundi

Founded in 2011

YBSP Burundi is the organization founded in Burundi in 2011, continuing locally rooted work supporting vulnerable children, families, youth and communities.