Noëlla Coursaris Musunka is building a movement powered by purpose, education, and unstoppable belief in the potential of girls.
The international model-turned-philanthropist is the Founder & CEO of Malaika — a grassroots nonprofit transforming lives through free education, health programs, and community empowerment in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
What began in 2007 as a dream to uplift girls has blossomed into a full ecosystem: a school for 430 girls, a community center impacting over 5,000 people, 31 wells providing clean water to 35,000+ Congolese, and programs training the next generation of electricians, farmers, and tech experts. And it’s all free.
Noëlla’s journey is deeply personal. Her mother’s sacrifice as an immigrant lit the fire, and today, Noëlla pays it forward with every life Malaika touches.
Named a United Nations Agent of Change, she’s also taken the message of empowerment from Davos to Harvard, Cambridge, and global stages. Yet, her heart remains in Kalebuka, with the girls she calls “leaders in the making.”
Noëlla’s work is a masterclass in using platform and privilege to power progress.
Read the interview below to learn how she’s building a generation and why the future looks like a girl with a book and a dream.
You’ve lived between cultures and continents—from the Congo to Europe to the world stage. How has your multicultural identity shaped your worldview and mission?
I think it’s formed me to someone who is able to see the value in the diverse and believe in the rights of everyone, everywhere. This is particularly true for girls’ education; the lack of education I would have received had I spent my entire childhood and formative years in Congo, and the life-changing opportunity a solid education was for me in Europe. Girls in every part of the world are brimming with potential and a hunger to learn and drive change, and I am passionate about making their dreams a reality through education.
Looking back at your childhood, what do you think the younger Noëlla would say if she saw who you are today?
I think she would look up to me! And she would be so happy to see that the adversity I encountered formed me into the woman I am today, who is driven to make change and use the platform I have to make a difference.
Your journey started with separation and loss, yet you turned that pain into purpose. How did you find the strength to do that?
I had no choice! I saw very quickly that school and education was the key to everything and it was so special that I had been given this opportunity, even if I had to go through heartache to get there. I poured myself into my studies because it empowered me. And I also knew deeply how huge a sacrifice it had been for my mother to send me away, in order to give me the chance at a better life, and it was hugely important for me to honor that choice.
When you started Malaika in 2007, did you ever imagine it would grow into what it is today? What’s been the most unexpected part of the journey?
I dreamed that Malaika would be a true center of empowerment, but I could not have imagined what a fully-encompassing ecosystem and heart of the community that it is today. In addition to our school for 430 girls, we have a community center that offers a range of programs to 5,000 youth and adults, a clean water program with 31 wells that services over 35,000 people each year, technical classes educating and certifying future electricians and mechanics (we’ve already had hundreds move through the program and into the workforce!), and a sustainable agricultural program that provides two nutritious meals each day to students and staff. Malaika’s community-driven approach serves as a replicable model, and all programs are offered free of charge. That’s something I’m so humbled and amazed by all the time!
Also, we’ve already had 50 girls graduate from our first two classes. Rapper/Songwriter Eve Cooper was our first class president, and Madame MakaziweMandela the second – that was so, so special. We’re now helping these girls continue on their journeys and supporting them at university and with other pursuits.
You’re building more than a school—you’re building a generation. What values do you hope the girls who go through Malaika carry into the world?
I believe, because I’ve already seen it in action, that these girls will continue to lift up themselves but then also turn and lift up each other, their families and their communities. To not only strive for personal growth but to always be looking for how they can better their world and empower others with the gifts they’ve been giving. I see our girls as the next leaders of not only Congo but of Africa and the world.
You’ve mentioned the vision for Malaika was planted in your heart during that first return to Congo. What specific moment or observation during that trip catalyzed your decision to create an organization focused on girls’ education?
As I mentioned previously, I saw the stark difference upon returning between what my life and reality was—a wide-open future through the education I was receiving—and the very narrow opportunities that stood before the girls of my home country. They were facing little to no schooling, early marriage and a life without the chance to learn and grow. This really struck me, and I knew immediately in my heart that I had to do something. In a country that has been in a state of critical conflict for more than 30 years, we need lasting peace to rebuild our country.
What are some of the most pressing issues African girls and women are facing right now—and how do you believe we can begin to shift the narrative and systems around them?
Girls and women have realized their potential and realized what amazing leaders they are and are starting to gain confidence to learn, to better themselves, to drive change around them. But this can be challenging in places where it has not been traditionally practiced, because there is always fear there. Malaika addresses these challenges by educating and providing opportunities not only for a girl, but for her mother, her father and her brother. As they too gain skills that allow them to grow their families and communities, they are educated on the very important role their daughters and sisters play, and this can lead to generational change moving forward. Josiane, for example, was one of our first cohort of students and is now in her second year pursuing studies in technology. She won a full scholarship to study abroad and recently received a prize for being the top student in her school. She is writing her own future and lifting up others along the way.
What does female empowerment look like to you in practice, especially in places where the systems are deeply patriarchal?
Even in cultures where it’s not as emphasized, there is always room to educate girls. We’ve already seen that women tend to empower other women. When they are given an opportunity, they tend to use it to help those around them, so it truly creates a ripple effect. We need to keep girls in school as long as boys, around the world.
You’ve described yourself as a feminist who believes in access to education as an intrinsic human right. How has your understanding of feminism been shaped by your experiences across such different cultural contexts?
In order to address any given issue, it’s important to have a full understanding of its context. At Malaika, it has been crucial to our work since the very beginning to be community led. Instead of coming in and seeing what we think needs to happen, we asked the community and listened and worked with them to give them the tools they needto uplift themselves. I believe this is necessary anywhere. You have to look at each geographical or cultural area uniquely. The Malaika Model Toolkit is amazing because it’s a framework for creating a system as effective as Malaika, but it emphasizes the importance of local community and accounting for specific contexts.
You’ve involved your children in Malaika from a young age. What values are you most intentional about passing on to them?
I want my children to see the value in every individual everywhere, and to live in a way where they are always looking outward, seeing how they can share the resources they have with the world around them. To look for areas that need bolstering and be the ones to take initiative and find out how they can support and make change. They come with me to Congo for several weeks every year, and it’s beautiful them helping in many different ways while seamlessly merging into the culture that’s in their blood.
As an Ambassador for The Global Fund, you work on broader health issues affecting Africa. How do you see the intersection between health access and educational opportunity, particularly for girls?
It’s as simple as this: A girl can’t study if she’s so hungry she can’t focus, and she can’t make it to school if she’s too sick to walk. According to UNICEF, a child under 5 dies of malaria nearly every minute. It’s hard to achieve much if health is standing in the way of basic functioning, and how much more can a girl thrive if she’s truly healthy and well-fed. That’s what we mean when we describe Malaika as holistic – we’re addressing all of these needs to give a girl a chance to be on equal footing with her peers worldwide and to be ready to learn and take on the world.
As a woman who wears many hats—mother, activist, founder, ambassador—what grounds you in seasons of overwhelm, and what keeps you hopeful?
It’s easy to stay hopeful when I’m in daily communication with my Malaika community (I lead Malaika as a passionate volunteer across every aspect of our foundation)! Yes, we have many challenges, but I’m so constantly inspired by our girls and their families and how they are achieving. Seeing our first graduation several years ago was monumental for me, and now I’ve been watching some of those girls grow into young women who are so confident and are thriving at universities, even abroad! That gives me so much hope! My children and my husband are also a constant source of joy and support, and I’m so grateful for that.
