Ishimwe’s journey is deeply rooted in his own experiences as a refugee in Kenya. Having faced numerous challenges in his early education—including a language barrier, difficulty affording school fees, and the lack of refugee identity documents—he understands firsthand the hardships endured by refugees and their families, particularly regarding the lack of identity documentation.

With over five years of experience in the humanitarian sector, Ishimwe has been actively promoting refugee leadership and advocating for inclusive refugee policies and systems. A journalist by training, he holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Nairobi.

Prior to joining R-SEAT, he served as the Executive Director of Youth Voices Community (YVC) since 2019, guiding the organization in advancing refugee advocacy, particularly in the areas of socio-economic inclusion and self-reliance in Kenya. Through The Future With Wakimbizi campaign, he has also been a strong advocate for refugee economic inclusion.

He currently serves as the East Africa Regional Lead for Refugees Seeking Equal Access at the Table (R-SEAT), where he is responsible for promoting the institutionalization of meaningful refugee participation and leadership at the state level in the East Africa region.

“Refugees have aspirations and dreams just like any other person in the world. They should be given a central role in driving solutions to the challenges they face. They should be heard and given the agency to lead.” - Jean Marie Ishimwe