Hello Everyone,
My name is Gisele Ishimwe, also known as Tantine. I am the eldest daughter of Marie Louise Umumararungu (affectionately known as Maman Louise), who is the founder of Tree of Hope and Joy, a nonprofit organization in Rwanda that strives to promote the dignity of the most vulnerable through projects that restore the hope and joy of life by supporting children’s education, youth and women’s empowerment, and elderly accompaniment. As my mother explains in the introductory YouTube video, she established Tree of Hope and Joy in early 2020, inspired by Jesus—the ultimate servant leader—who calls us to put our faith into action.
As some of you know, my mother passed away suddenly on January 26, 2025. It was a terrible shock to our family, friends, and the followers of her gospel teachings on YouTube, WhatsApp, and prayer groups.
Among her good works, my mother helped many children from the street return to school. Since her death, these children, in their grief and distress, have said they would return to the street without her support. Please help us make sure that these children remain in school.
After her funeral, I met with the Tree of Hope and Joy Board of Directors—including our Vice President, Treasurer, and advisors—to determine the future direction of our organization. We unanimously agreed to maintain our commitment to children’s education ( Humura Mwana Wanjye project) and other critical programs. These include:
● Empowering vulnerable women by equipping them with skills to break the cycle of poverty ( Twiremere Ubuhamya project).
● Assisting the elderly, especially those living alone in rural Rwanda, with essential daily tasks such as cooking and cleaning ( Umuherekeza project).
Looking ahead, Tree of Hope and Joy will continue expanding the vision that Maman Louise passionately embraced.
In 2024, Tree of Hope and Joy used a budget of $36,000 for various activities, including the following key initiatives:
● Paying school fees for students and providing them with school supplies.
● Providing elderly people with hygiene supplies, mattresses, and bedding.
● Training women in tailoring and crafts, providing them with sewing machines and financial support to start small businesses.
For 2025, the organization seeks to raise another $36,000 to sustain these vital programs.
Currently, Tree of Hope and Joy does not have permanent donors. As I shared through my latest YouTube videos, we are actively reaching out and knocking on doors to raise funds. With the full support of the Tree of Hope and Joy board of directors, I am launching this fundraiser on behalf of the organization. All funds raised will go directly to sustaining and advancing Tree of Hope and Joy projects.
For those unable to donate through GoFundMe, Tree of Hope and Joy also accepts contributions via
● Momo Pay: *182*8*1*111139#
● Mobile Money: *182*1*1*0788803408#
● Rwandan Francs ( RWF) account: Ecobank Rwanda : 6852003543
● US dollars ( USD) account : Ecobank Rwanda: 6780005434:
SWIFT CODE: ECOCRWRW
We are deeply grateful for the support we have received so far.
Please donate what you can, as every contribution makes a difference.
Whether or not you can donate, please share our link with others.
Thank you all in advance for your kindness and generosity.
Sincerely,
Gisele Ishimwe
On behalf of Tree of Hope and Joy
Muraho Mwese,
Nitwa Gisele Ishimwe, uzwi nka Tantine, ndi imfura ya Marie Louise Umumararungu (benshi bakundaga kwita Maman Louise). Marie Louise yashinze umuryango udaharanira inyungu Tree of Hope and Joy, usobanura “Igiti cy'ibyiringiro n’Ibyishimo”. Uyu muryango, washinzwe mu mwaka wa 2020, ugamije kuzamura icyizere mu buzima bw’abatishoboye binyuze mu gufasha abana kwiga, guteza imbere abagore n’urubyiruko, no kwita ku bageze mu zabukuru. Ibi byose mama yabikoranaga urukundo, ashishikajwe n’amahame ya Yezu Kristu, udushishikariza kugira ukwemera guherekejwe n’ibikorwa nkuko abisobanura muri youtube video.
Ku itariki ya 26 Mutarama 2025, mama yitabye Imana bitunguranye. Byaciye igikuba gikomeye ku muryango wacu, inshuti ze, ndetse n’abakurikiranaga inyigisho ze kuri Youtube, WhatsApp, ndetse no muri groupes z’amasengesho. Mu bikorwa byamuranze, yafashije abana benshi bari ku muhanda gusubira mu ishuri. Nyuma y’urupfu rwe, abo bana bafite impungenge ko bashobora gusubira ku muhanda. Niyo mpamvu tubasaba gufatanya natwe kugira ngo abo bana babashe gukomeza kwiga.
Nyuma yo gushyingura mama, nahuye n’Inama y’Ubutegetsi ya Tree of Hope and Joy, twemeza ko tugomba gukomeza ibikorwa mama yadutangirije, cyane cyane:
● Gufasha abana kwiga (Umushinga Humura Mwana Wanjye).
● Gufasha abagore kwihugura mu myuga (Umushinga Twiremere Ubuhamya).
● Kwitaho abageze mu zabukuru (Umushinga Umuherekeza).
Mu mwaka wa 2024, Tree of Hope and Joy yakoresheje ingengo y’imari ya $36,000 mu bikorwa byinshi harimo ibi by’ingenzi:
● Kwishyurira abanyeshuri amafaranga y’ishuri no kubaha ibikoresho by’ishuri.
● Guha abageze mu zabukuru ibikoresho by’isuku, matola n’ibiringiti.
● Guhugura abagore mu myuga y’ubudozi n’ubukorikori, tubaha imashini zidoda n’inkunga y’amafaranga yo gutangiza imishinga iciriritse.
Mu 2025, intego yacu ni ugukusanya $36,000 kugira ngo ibi bikorwa bikomeze.
Kugeza ubu, Tree of Hope and Joy nta baterankunga bahoraho ifite. Nk’uko nabigaragaje muri videwo zanjye za vuba kuri YouTube, turi gukora uko dushoboye ngo tubone inkunga. Mfite uburenganzira bwuzuye bw’Inama y’Ubutegetsi bwa Tree of Hope and Joy bwo gutangiza iki gikorwa cyo gukusanya inkunga binyuze kuri ino GofundMe. Amafaranga yose azakusanywa azakoreshwa mu gukomeza imishinga y’umuryango wa Tree of Hope and Joy.
Abatabasha gutanga bakoresheje GofundMe, bashobora gutera inkunga Tree of Hope and Joy binyuze muri:
● Momo Pay: *182*8*1*111139#
● Mobile Money: *182*1*1*0788803408#
● Konti ya Banki y’amanyarwanda (RWF): Ecobank Rwanda: 6852003543
● Konti ya Banki y’amadolari (USD): Ecobank Rwanda: 6780005434
Turashimira buri wese umaze kudutera inkunga.
Imfashanyo yanyu, uko yaba ingana kose, ni ingirakaramo cyane.
Niba udashoboye gutanga, waba uduteye ingabo mu bitugu usangije iyi nkuru abandi.
Murakoze ku mutima mwiza n’impuhwe zanyu.
Gisele Ishimwe
Mu izina rya Tree of Hope and Joy