About BESTIM
A youth-led movement born from compassion, growing through community.
Our Story
It started during COVID-19, when a high school student in rural Rwanda noticed something deeply troubling: young people were taking their lives at an alarming rate. Radio announcements became grimly familiar, each one telling of another student lost during the pandemic.
The turning point came with a tragedy close to home. At Rwanda Coding Academy, a student left behind a letter explaining her pain: despite academic excellence, she felt her father's expectations were never satisfied. She had no mother, and the pressure became unbearable. For many students, school was home — and for some, home wasn't the safe haven it should be.
What began as prayer and a desire to help evolved into action. After consulting with family, teachers, and mentors, BESTIM was born at G.S. Remera Rukoma. A team of twenty-five students — carefully selected for their social nature and approachability — came together with one mission: to create a home for fellow students who needed one.
Five years later, BESTIM continues to grow, touching lives through peer support, mental health awareness, and community outreach — proving that young people can be powerful agents of change in their communities.
Our Mission
To empower students in rural areas to become mental health advocates and support systems for their peers, promoting awareness, understanding, and emotional well-being in underserved communities.
Our Vision
To create a strong culture of mental wellness and support in rural communities, where every student feels seen, heard, and empowered to support one another.
Majorine Ibyishaka
Founder
Majorine Ibyishaka founded BESTIM as a high school student at G.S. Remera Rukoma during the COVID-19 pandemic, driven by the alarming rate of student suicides in rural Rwanda. What started as a personal response to tragedy grew into a community-wide movement that has touched hundreds of lives.