Jean-Marie Nkurunziza is a Burundian who started working for Sonke Gender Justice Network as a volunteer. He is now a Sonke One Man Can Trainer for the Refugee Health and Rights Project. He is committed to promoting gender equality, stopping gender-based violence, spreading HIV/AIDS awareness and improving refugees and migrants' lives in South Africa and the world. After completing a Diploma in Arts in 2003, he studied Social Sciences at the University of Burundi. His training includes Gender Equality, HIV/AIDS, Human Rights, Gender Media and Political Economy. He is currently studing a BCOM Accounting Degree with UNISA.

Jean-Marie's involvement in activism started in 1999 when he joined the Burundi Red Cross youth group as a volunteer. After his studies he co-founded the Christian Ministries of Volunteers Evangelic in the World (CMVEW) where he was the Community Co-ordinator and Counsellor in HIV/AIDS. He started working with Refugees and migrants in South Africa in 2005 when he joined Jubilee South Africa and later Bienvenue Shelter. Fluent in French, Kirundi, Swahili and English, Jean-Marie now works with the Refugees and Migrants Community through the Refugee Health and Rights (RHR) Project.