Ubuntu Center for Peace

What Ubuntu Center for Peace does

Ubuntu Center for Peace is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded in 2015 and headquartered in the United States with operational headquarters in Kamonyi District, Rwanda. It addresses the trauma and common mental health disorders (PTSD, depression, anxiety, psychosomatic conditions) affecting an estimated one in five Rwandans in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide, where approximately 85% of those in need lack access to conventional mental healthcare. The organization's core deliverable is the Imenye Wigire program, a 15-week community-based Healing Circle integrating three methodological components: Breath-Body-Mind (BBM) exercises, the Tree of Life collective narrative methodology, and culturally grounded healing rituals. These Healing Circles are facilitated by trained Community Healing Assistants (CHAs, known locally as Abubatsi b'Amahoro), each of whom completes 216 hours of training in trauma recovery, group facilitation, ethics, and safeguarding. Upon program completion, participants transition into Saving Circles — self-help savings and mutual-support groups — for ongoing economic and emotional reinforcement.

The business model is donor-funded, not commercial. Revenue (the budget base) is sourced from institutional grants and private donations, with named funders including Segal Family Foundation, Mulago Foundation, Trauma Research Foundation, Templeton Religious Trust, Breath-Body-Mind Foundation, a Swiss-based foundation, and Dovetail. Services are delivered free of charge to participants. Distribution is community-led and government-partnered: the organization operates through formal MOUs with the Gasabo, Kamonyi, and Kirehe district governments, has trained 704 CHAs and 152 School Healing Assistants, and has reached 32,020+ people cumulatively across three Rwandan districts. A parallel School-Based Social Healing (SBSH) vertical delivers trauma support to 469 high school students. Leadership is held by co-founder and Executive Director Dr. Jean Bosco Niyonzima, supported by a U.S. Board (Kevin D. Batt, Chair) and a Rwanda Board (Norbert Habincuti, President).

Name

Ubuntu Center for Peace

Legal name

Ubuntu Center for Peace

Website

https://ubuntucenterforpeace.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ubuntu Center for Peace is a 501(c)(3) non-profit delivering a 15-week community-based Healing Circle program (Imenye Wigire) for trauma-affected Rwandans, integrating Breath-Body-Mind exercises, narrative therapy, and local rituals. Services are free to participants and funded by institutional grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Mental Health and Trauma Recovery Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) (621330), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Post-Conflict Recovery, Reconciliation & Social Cohesion Programs (BPADAFAL), Recreation Therapy, Stress Management & Mindfulness Programs (EDALAFAO)

Keywords

• Community mental health
• Trauma healing services
• Psychosocial support
• Community-based healing
• Post-conflict recovery

Headquarters

HQ city

Jamaica Plain

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Ubuntu Center for Peace is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States. The organization relies entirely on donations and grants from foundations, institutional donors, and individual private donors to fund operations and program delivery.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ubuntu Center for Peace delivers a free, 15-week Imenye Wigire community healing program through group Healing Circles of 15-20 participants, led by trained Community Healing Assistants (CHAs). Each weekly 2-3 hour session integrates Breath-Body-Mind exercises, Tree of Life narrative storytelling, and culturally relevant healing rituals to address trauma, depression, anxiety, and PTSD among genocide survivors and conflict-affected individuals in Rwanda. After completing the cycle, participants transition into Saving Circles for ongoing mutual support.

Product overview

Ubuntu Center for Peace operates as a nonprofit organization offering a community-based social healing model rather than a traditional technology product. The core offering is the Imenye Wigire 15-week healing program, delivered through Healing Circles led by trained Community Healing Assistants (CHAs). The model integrates three therapeutic methodologies: Breath-Body-Mind (BBM) Exercises (evidence-based breathing, movement, and relaxation practices), Tree of Life Narrative (collective storytelling for identity reconstruction), and culturally grounded Healing Rituals (song, dance, drumming, storytelling). After completing the healing journey, participants transition into Saving Circles for ongoing economic and emotional support. The organization also trains School Healing Assistants (SHAs) for school-based interventions. The portfolio includes both direct service delivery (healing circles) and workforce development (CHA and SHA training programs).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Imenye Wigire: A 15-week healing circle program integrating Breath-Body-Mind exercises, Tree of Life narrative methodology, and culturally relevant healing rituals, led by trained Community Healing Assistants (Abubatsi b'Amahoro)
• School-Based Social Healing (SBSH)
• Imenye Wigire Saving Circles

Products and services

• Imenye Wigire Healing Circles A free, 15-week structured group healing program where 15-20 participants meet weekly for 2-3 hours of guided dialogue, Breath-Body-Mind practices, and Tree of Life storytelling, delivered by trained Community Healing Assistants (Abubatsi b'Amahoro) for trauma-affected individuals in Rwanda.
• School-Based Social Healing (SBSH) A trauma-informed school-based healing program where trained School Healing Assistants deliver healing circles to high school students experiencing trauma, anxiety, social phobia, and emotional difficulties affecting academic performance and well-being.
• Imenye Wigire Saving Circles Post-program self-help groups in which members continue to meet, pool savings, and support each other emotionally, socially, and economically long after the formal healing program ends.
• Community Healing Assistant (CHA) Training Program A 216-hour training program that prepares trusted community members to lead 15-week Healing Circles of 15-20 participants, covering trauma recovery, group facilitation, mental health, ethics, Breath-Body-Mind practices, and safeguarding under professional supervision.

Quantifiable outcome

• 89.1% of participants with depression showed no depression symptoms by end of intervention (3,165 out of 8,148 respondents)
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Gasabo DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government district in Rwanda where Ubuntu Center implements community healing circles and school-based programs.
• Kamonyi DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government district in Rwanda hosting the organization's headquarters and primary program operations.
• Kirehe DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government district in Rwanda where Ubuntu Center implements community healing circles.
• IkirangantegominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal implementing partner organization supporting program delivery.
• StrongMindsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health organization implementing similar community-based approaches in Rwanda.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Last Mile Health: Last Mile Health recruits, trains, and supports community health workers across sub-Saharan Africa. Overlaps with Ubuntu on the lay-provider community healing workforce model (CHAs / SHAs) and African geography.
• Partners In Health: Partners In Health operates comprehensive health systems in Rwanda and other LMICs, including mental health integration within primary care. Overlap with Ubuntu on Rwanda operations and community health workforce, though PIH's portfolio is much broader.
• International Medical Corps: International Medical Corps delivers emergency response and community mental health in conflict-affected countries globally. Comparable footprint in post-conflict settings and overlap with trauma-focused community programming.
• Save the Children: Save the Children operates global child and family health programs with mental health and psychosocial support components. Comparable scale of operations and previous employer of Ubuntu's Executive Director, indicating programmatic overlap.

Direct peers

• StrongMinds: StrongMinds implements community-based group therapy for depression in Rwanda and Uganda, delivering outcomes to a comparable trauma/maternal mental health cohort using lay-provider-led circles. Directly overlapping on geography, delivery model, and target population.
• BasicNeeds: BasicNeeds delivers mental health and psychosocial support to vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income countries through community-based models. Comparable mission, peer support methodology, and LMIC footprint to Ubuntu.
• Sangath: Sangath delivers community-based mental health interventions in India using task-shifting to lay counsellors, with rigorous outcome measurement. Highly analogous model architecture — non-physician community delivery, evidence-based outcomes, LMIC focus.

Others

• Trauma Research Foundation: Trauma Research Foundation funds evidence-based trauma healing research and practice, including Breath-Body-Mind work. Listed as a core funding partner and adjacent to Ubuntu's methodology stack.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ubuntucenterforpeaceucp1551
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ubuntu-center-for-peace

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ubuntu Center for Peace