WHAT IS THE NYOTA LEADERSHIP PROGRAM?
Nyota is a six-month, cohort-based leadership and professional development program for women in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Each Saturday afternoon, participants gather in person for three hours on the campus of the Université Chrétienne Bilingue du Congo (UCBC)—often after completing a full workweek, including Saturday morning hours. Their commitment is extraordinary.
Over the course of six monthly modules, women engage in interactive learning on topics that reflect their realities and aspirations:
- Work/Life Balance
- Women in Leadership
- Communication and Advocacy
- Project Management
- Resource Management
- Networking
Nyota is more than a curriculum. It’s a community. Between sessions, cohort members stay connected, sharing ideas, seeking advice, and encouraging one another. Many describe this ongoing peer support as one of the most transformative parts of the program.
Nyota was co-created through a user-centered design process led by Impact Now and UCBC. Women leaders from the region explored essential questions, including—
- What do you need to lead well?
- What barriers do you face?
- What support do you wish you had?
Their responses and insights shaped the program. Consequently, Nyota speaks to the real concerns and hopes of the women it serves.
The name Nyota, which means both “star” and “destiny” in Swahili, captures the heart of the program: helping women step into their calling and shine. In a context where women often face cultural, spiritual, and institutional barriers to leadership, Nyota participants are stars that light the way forward—for their families, their organizations, their communities, and their country.
Graduates of the Nyota Leadership Program step into a new destiny with confidence, resilience, and vision. They manifest their leadership despite working in male-dominant environments. Like stars that rise out of the darkness to brighten the night sky, Nyota women bring guidance and hope where it is most needed—and in doing so, they are creating a new future.
WHY BENI?
Barriers for Women
Women in Beni face deeply entrenched patriarchal norms, limited access to education, and systemic inequality, making leadership roles highly inaccessible.
Impact of Ongoing Conflict
Beni’s instability, driven by armed groups and violence, disproportionately affects women and exacerbates their marginalization.
Transformational Potential
Female leaders play a critical role in peacebuilding, fostering social justice, and addressing community needs with empathy and inclusivity.
Catalyst for Development
Empowering women leaders in Beni leads to improved access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunities, driving sustainable progress and equity in the region.
CONGO CONVERSATIONS
At the most recent Congo Conversation (September 21, 2025), Vivian Bwirabuli and Adelphine Angemito, shared powerful stories of resilience and leadership, noting how women are breaking barriers, lifting each other up, and creating ripples of change in their communities.
Both women are UCBC staff and Nyota team members.
VIVIAN
Early in her talk, Vivian noted the two primary challenges facing women in DRC: lack of confidence and cultural norms. Vivian knows these challenges firsthand as a young professional. Through persistence she has pushed through resistance. She has proven her capability as a colleague, collaborator, and leader. Vivian underscored the unique strengths that women contribute to the workplace and community, and emphasized the importance of giving women the chance to demonstrate their own potential.
ADELPHINE
Out of personal experience and hardship, Adelphine has developed leadership skills and confidence. Among Adelphine’s gifts is the ability to inspire young women to develop self-assurance and capacity. During her time as a UCBC undergraduate, she started Women’s Voices, a student organization to help female classmates learn to believe in themselves and to develop skills of influence. Adelphine described how she balances family and work life, illustrating how leadership is a personal and professional skill.
This was just one glimpse into the courage and vision of women leaders in Congo. Information about the December Congo Conversation will be available soon.
The entire Congo Conversation with Vivian and Adelphine can be found at here. (Passcode: #0eqj^ui)
LISTEN TO NYOTA PARTICIPANTS
Charline Wakine
Linda Etoy
Marie Bulieni
Edwige Makombe
Mby José
Renath Sikahimbula
Falone Adidja
Jeannette Longhi
READ MORE ABOUT THE NYOTA LEADERSHIP PROGRAM:
Finding Voice: How NYOTA Teaches Women in the DRC to Speak Up and Be Heard
For women in the DRC, speaking up can carry real social cost. NYOTA’s Communication and Advocacy module equips women leaders in Beni with the skills to navigate conflict, build advocacy plans, and make their voices count. Here’s how it works.
What Values-Based Leadership Looks Like for Women in the DRC
The NYOTA Leadership Development Program’s Module 2 challenges command-and-control leadership norms in the DRC—and shows women what it looks like when a leader truly listens. Discover how values-based leadership is transforming women’s confidence in Beni, Congo.
Why Work/Life Balance Is the Foundation of Women’s Leadership Development in the DRC
Discover how the NYOTA Leadership Development Program uses work/life balance training to empower women leaders in Beni, DRC — and why personal sustainability is the bedrock of lasting leadership impact.
EBOLA OUTBREAK UPDATE
Learn more about how the Ebola Outbreak is affecting the women of NYOTA in Beni, DRC.
Women Leaders Change Their Communities: NYOTA Leadership Program, DRC
Meet Clémence Doty and learn how the NYOTA Leadership Program in the DRC is equipping women to lead, build businesses, and transform their communities.
One Woman. Thousands of Lives.
March is a season to celebrate women. It’s Women's History Month, and there is International Women's Day on March 8th. In much of the world, the day passes as a social media moment. It’s a hashtag, a quotation on Instagram, a story from history, and brief...
Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day
March gives us a moment to pause and celebrate women.
WHEN THE WORLD SHIFTS: NYOTA WOMEN LEAD THROUGH CRISIS
A recent New York Times article brought one of the realities of eastern DRC into sharp focus for me. The piece documented life in Goma one year after M23 rebels took control of the city. The human toll: nearly 3,000 people killed and more than 2,800 wounded in a city...
THE POWER OF CONVERSATION: ONE LEADER’S TRANSFORMATION RIPPLES THROUGH A COMMUNITY
When Rebecca Matabishi founded Les Oliviers School Complex in Beni, the Democratic Republic of Congo, she carried the weight of leading a nursery, primary, and secondary school alone. She had passion and vision. However, she notes, "I was afraid. As a result, I missed...
Continuing the Conversation: From NYOTA Graduate to Community Impact
I consider NYOTA graduate Jeanette Longhi a friend. Jeanette’s smile lights up a room. Her energy inspires action. It was a delight to catch up with Jeanette when I was in Beni in September. After church one Sunday, Jeanette invited me to join her at a seminar she had...
SUPPORT IMPACT NOW
Join the Impact Now team with a donation and partner with women leaders as they develop skills and confidence to step into the leadership roles to which they have been called.