Espoir's Story

Espoir Ngalukiye, a politician and human rights activist from Goma, DRC, has dedicated his life to tackling the pressing issues of political instability and social injustice in his country. His journey, shaped by his activism with the grassroots movement LUCHA, took a significant turn when he joined the Africa Venture programme, a leadership initiative aimed at empowering future African leaders.

Motivated by a deep desire to contribute to his country’s future, Espoir embraced this opportunity to develop essential leadership skills. Through the programme, he gained valuable insights that have since guided his activism and political career, these include:

1. Influencing and effecting change without formal power
2. Connecting with peers across different sectors
3. Embodying the qualities of good leadership

After completing the programme, Espoir deepened his political involvement by joining the opposition party Ensemble pour la République and running in the 2023 national deputy elections in Goma. Despite not winning, his commitment to driving change remains unwavering, as he continues to leverage his experiences to champion democracy, human rights, and inspire future generations of leaders in the DRC.

Applying Leadership Beyond Authority

Many of Espoir’s peers believe that politics is beyond their reach due to their age - an idea he consistently challenged, reinforced by his exposure to Leading Beyond Authority (LBA).

“Many people of my generation think that we can’t do politics, that we have to leave it to older people. But I believe this is our time. We can’t be young for eternity and the programme helped me break these limits.”

Espoir recognized that to effect change in environments where he held no formal authority, he needed to rely on persuasion and draw upon his experience as an activist with LUCHA.

“When we were organising public demonstrations with LUCHA, I had to convince and build trust with others to join, even if we knew we might be arrested. I used to tell people: even if we are only ten, we must protest because our message reflects what most people feel in their hearts.”

Entering the political arena despite warnings from friends and family about the risks, Espoir aspired to shift the political landscape. Amongst many things, he attributes his ongoing resilience to his time on the Africa Venture programme, which he describes as “fuel without which I could not have come this far.”

“I think LBA should be included in schools. If I had learned about it five, ten years ago, I could’ve pushed boundaries even further. I believe students and young people in general could really benefit from it.”

Connecting over leadership challenges

Participating in the Africa Venture programme gave Espoir the opportunity to connect with leaders from different countries and sectors across the continent, broadening his perspective. Through conversations with his peers, he quickly realised that the challenges he faced were similar across different contexts.

“Before joining the programme, I thought I perceived the challenges around poor leadership and governance in Africa because I worked in the nonprofit sector. But after speaking with people from different countries and sectors, I found that we all share the same conclusions.”

Upon realising this shared reality, Espoir saw a clear opportunity and appetite for change.

“I thought to myself, maybe it’s possible to create positive change in our countries. For me, that meant becoming active in governance and becoming a role model for the next generation. In the coming years, if even 50% of African leaders took part in a programme like Africa Venture, I’m confident we will change the story of our countries and continent.“

Additionally, his time on the programme helped him grow a network he otherwise wouldn’t have accessed. Even if these connections haven’t yet materialised into concrete outcomes, he acknowledges their inherent value.

“It doesn’t have to bring results immediately. Even if it’s in 10 years and only two or three of us eventually become established leaders, we can still all work together to change the future of our countries.”

Embodying the qualities of good leadership

Since completing the Africa Venture programme, Espoir has intentionally applied key attributes he believes any good leader should embody. He reflects on the leadership style required in the challenging context he operates in.

“I am a servant leader, not dictating from the front, but pushing from the back to get people to achieve necessary results. And I can’t be a servant leader without being a role model, without having the qualities of a good leader.”

Espoir always looks towards the future to communicate a clear vision. He practices humility, not seeking to always take credit and understanding when to step back. He exhibits courage, taking calculated risks despite the fear of potential consequences. He values loyalty and integrity to nurture trust. He continually works on developing tolerance and forgiveness toward those who may have wronged him, drawing inspiration from the few role models he can look up to.

“In the past, people I thought I could trust would end up reporting confidential information to the police, and it’s been very hard for me to forgive them. But then I think back to Mandela who, once elected as president, dedicated himself to serve every South African.”

Practically speaking, Espoir looks towards empathy and compassion.

“When I need to forgive someone, I ask myself—What if I were that person? What would drive me to act like this? If I can’t forgive others, then we can’t build peace. As Desmond Tutu titled his book, there is no future without forgiveness.”

Espoir’s ultimate aspiration is clear: “I hope that one day I’ll be among the people in charge of shaping the present and future of my country. I hope that it’ll be written in my story that I fought against bad governance and that I was considered a good leader.” His journey through the Africa Venture programme and continued political activism reflect his unwavering commitment to this vision, lighting up the path for a brighter future.

Espoir Ngalukiye is an Executive Member of the political party Ensemble pour la République 
He took part in the Africa Venture Programme in 2018.