Our team left the urban jungle of New York City to settle for a day in the moutains of Colorado Springs, Colorado where we met up with our next Emerging Leader, Hermine E’Gairma from Rwanda who has been matched with the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).

Hermine is a FIBA-certified international basketball referee as well as a physical education teacher at an international school, and the President of the Women and Sports Commission for the Rwandan Olympic Committee.

Hermine is a role model for youth throughout Rwanda. She considers herself an “all-sport athlete” and continues to play tennis, basketball, handball, swimming, and volleyball on a regular basis. Because of her role as a physical educator and avid athlete, she is highly regarded as an expert on health, fitness, exercise, and sport.

As President of the Women and Sports Commission, Hermine dreams of using her position to increase sports opportunities for girls at the junior national level. According to Hermine, the Rwandan government is very supportive of gender balance throughout society including sports. By using government resources to build capacity for junior national programs, more Rwandan women can represent their country in future Olympic Games.

Hermine’s vision for Rwanda for peace and healing after such conflict and tragedy in her country echoes the most fundamental ideals of the Olympic movement – how sport can be used to unite people of difference, promote friendship, and encourage peace between individuals. The USOC can provide Hermine with the knowledge and resources she needs to implement sport initiatives that encourage and uplift women and girls of Rwanda.