
The Scholarship
The Scholars
Godiolla Akimana
Burundi & University of Cape Town, 2026 Godiolla graduated from the American University of Beirut with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health and a minor in Public Health as a Mastercard Foundation Scholar. She is a committed community leader advancing sustainable development, public health, and youth empowerment in Burundi. As Resource Mobilization Officer at Water for Development and Co-founder of the WASH and Climate Innovation Hub, she drives locally led initiatives that strengthen resilience in underserved communities, including the Smart Farm project and the local production of ceramic water filters for safe, affordable drinking water. She also founded the Bwiza Youth Business Group, helping young people build small enterprises and practical skills for self-reliance. Her dedication to environmental health extends to her coordination work with the Association Burundaise pour la Protection de la Nature, where she led awareness and community actions to protect ecosystems and the endangered Grey Crowned Crane, while fostering transboundary collaboration across East Africa. She plans to pursue a Master’s in Public Health to deepen her ability to design inclusive, sustainable development and health interventions across the continent.









