Rwanda Team
Our team is characterized by the cohesion that grows from a shared vision, a deep commitment to service and the satisfaction of effectively designing and implementing high impact education and income generation projects. A well-designed plan, a dedicated team with strong skills, good management, open communication, and financial transparency have always been at the heart of our success.
Program Manager
Zuena Umurararungu - Zuena Umurararungu is a passionate community development leader with 5+ years of experience in social impact initiatives with a proven ability to manage programs, foster partnerships, and empower beneficiaries.
Prior to joining Hands of Mothers, Zuena was a key player in socio-economic development projects that involved capacity building as well as empowerment of local rural communities. As the Associate Field Manager at GiveDirectly, Zuena was responsible for overseeing strategic initiatives aimed at promoting the use of unconditional cash transfers for households living in extreme poverty. In her previous role as the Project Manager with the Rwanda Youth in Agribusiness (RYAF), Zuena supported the design and implementation of capacity building projects for young farmers and farmer cooperatives.
Program Assistants
Immaculee Icyizanye - Immaculée is a highly motivated and creative assistant who has been working with Hands of Mothers since 2014. Immaculée’ is the primary point of contact with the families in our Education and Economic Development Initiatives. In addition to working for Hands of Mothers, Immaculée is attending college and pursuing a degree in accounting. Immaculée has given us permission to share her story.
Elisha Kwizera - One of the things that interests me most about the Hands of Mothers is the experience I had with this organization since 2018, when they started to pay my school fees to study software development in high school. After I finished high school, Hands of Mothers helped me to study photography. I have personally experienced how the Hands of Mothers initiatives impact young people’s lives. Hands of Mothers provides children with the lifetime opportunity to attend school, which is changing their lives. Hands of Mothers also supports mothers through financial and literacy training and business loans. I am honored to have the opportunity to give back to my community by working for Hands of Mothers and to share my story.
U.S. Founding Team
Hands of Mothers was founded in 2007 as Manos de Madres by Susan Moinester and her daughters, Arielle and Margot. The vision began in Honduras in 2003 with Arielle’s development of an innovative women’s craft initiative and expanded to Rwanda in 2009 with Margot’s internship at WE-ACTx. Hands of Mothers’ U.S. team, Board of Directors and Fellows have always worked on a volunteer basis. All funds raised in the US are directed to support programming in Rwanda.
Susan Moinester - Executive Director
Susan Moinester is a visionary leader and social impact strategist with a passion for driving meaningful change. With over two decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, she has directed transformative initiatives that have empowered families and communities. As the Co-Founder and Director of Hands of Mothers, Susan has spearheaded programs focused on education and economic self-sufficiency, providing vital resources and training to help under-resourced women build their own businesses and improve their families’ quality of life. Susan's belief in a hands-on approach and dedication to grassroots change has enabled countless women to gain financial independence. Her leadership at Hands of Mothers has left a lasting impact on the communities she serves, fostering resilience, economic growth, and long-term sustainability.
Before founding Hands of Mothers, Susan built a robust business background that honed her strategic thinking, operational efficiency, and leadership skills in dynamic, fast-paced environments. She excelled in roles that required navigating complex challenges and driving growth. Her experience across both nonprofit and business sectors has equipped her with a unique perspective, enabling her to implement initiatives that empower organizations and communities alike.
Susan lives in Memphis, TN where she is actively engaged in her local community on issues of education, food insecurity and social justice. Susan holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work and Social Policy from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. from Brooklyn College in Psychology.
Dr. Margot Moinester - Co-Founder and Advisor
Margot is a co-founder of Hands of Mothers and currently serves as an Advisor. She first became involved with the organization in 2007 when she worked with INEZA, an income generation project connected with Women’s Equity in Access to Care and Treatment (WE-ACTx) in Kigali, Rwanda. She subsequently returned to Rwanda as a Davis Projects for Peace recipient and worked to transition INEZA into an independent cooperative. Margot is now an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Washington University. She holds a PhD in Sociology from Harvard University.
