Benson Wereje

Overview

Benson Wereje is co founder and executive director of COBURWAS International Youth Organization to Transform Africa (CIYOTA). CIYOTA is a youth led movement that unites and transforms communities with a focus on creating sustainable peace and prosperity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo using innovative education and non violent leadership techniques. In 1995 Benson's village was attacked by rebels slaughtering rival tribes he was separated from his parents and he endured unimaginable bloodshed before reaching Uganda. More than five million of Benson's friends and countrymen have been killed in his home area he was among the few survivors to reach the refugee camp. To help his homeland Benson started CIYOTA in 2005 by uniting youth to provide scholarships to underprivileged refugees. To date CIYOTA has given over 500 youth a secondary education and built a primary school and nursery school that serve over 200 students annually. The graduates of CIYOTA's schools are the future leaders of a peaceful DRC and today the organization reaches over 10000 people of diverse backgrounds who subscribe to CIYOTA's philosophy of peace in DRC. Benson serves on the student board of Educate! is the program manager of Theatre Versus Oppression and coordinated People Weaver's micro credit program.