Martine Udahemuka

Former refugee and award-winning public servant, passionate about creating community and opportunities for refugees.

Martine Udahemuka is Rwandese-born, Aotearoa-raised, and African-spirited. But above all, she is a proud, self-proclaimed, Sister-in-Service. 

Martine came to New Zealand after her beloved country of Rwanda turned into a bloodbath overnight and she was uprooted from her home. In the blink of an eye, her family lost everything they had ever known and millions of her countrymen perished. Being a refugee is an experience she would not wish on her worst enemy. 

Martine's life has since been profoundly shaped by this experience. To support others like her, she has founded two initiatives, MentorShip and LINK. MentorShip is a mentoring platform for former refugees in Aotearoa who need guidance to achieve their goals. LINK (Learn and Innovate with new Kiwis), is a community-led platform for people who want to collaborate with the former refugee community, one of the most resilient communities in New Zealand, to re-imagine and rebuild their lives. The co-design and solutions-focused hui is held during the World Refugee Day period. 

Martine has been recognised as an inspiring New Zealander and a rising woman star, a wāhine whetū, in the Public Sector.