Chantale Zuzi

Activist, Consultant, Single, Student, Writer/Editor

Chantale Zuzi Leader is a junior at Wellesley College and the founder of Refugee Can Be, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing secondary education, livelihood, and leadership training for girls from the Rwamwanja refugee camp in Uganda. As someone who sought refuge in this very camp due to ongoing violence in her home region in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chantale understands firsthand the deprivation, fear, and misery experienced by tens of thousands of displaced individuals. During her time in the comp, Chantale become an advocate for young refugee women, she also took on the responsibility of representing the needs of those facing challenges due to albinism and severely limited vision. She served as a liaison between the camp's United Nations workers and these marginalized groups. In September 2018, Chantale embarked on a new chapter in her life when she immigrated to the United States. Despite facing numerous obstacles, she completed high school in just three years with the highest honors and distinctions in Perseverance and English Literature. Currently enrolled at Wellesley College, Chantale continues to pursue her studies while making an impact through Refugee Can Be. Having experienced the painful loss of her own education as a result of becoming a refugee, Chantale was moved to create opportunities for other young girls like herself. During her visit to Rwamwanja in 2022, she met numerous girls who desperately desired to continue their education. This encounter became the driving force behind Chantale's life mission.

Creating an organization specifically designed to improve the present and future lives of girls and young women who are living in the Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement in Uganda.

The hardships and even tragedies we have faced in our lives can sometimes prepare us for doing good work in the world. When we understand from the inside out what loss and suffering feel like, it can give us the insight, the desire, and the drive to do all we can to alleviate the pain of others.

My TED story is just beginning. TEDWomen 2021 will be my first TED experience. I’m thrilled to attend and be inspired by the speakers whose ideas and work are contributing to positive change in the world. And I hope to speak at a TedWomen conference in the future.

Most people don’t know that I’m good at learning languages. I can usually learn a new language quite quickly, as I learned English when I came to the United States just a few years ago. Before arriving here, I already spoke four languages: Coastal Swahili, Congo Swahili, French, Lingala, and Kinyarwanda. I really enjoy learning to communicate in a new language and expanding the range of people I can speak with.