Dusenge
Dusenge is a second-generation refugee, both she and her parents were born in refugee camps in Africa, in Congo and Tanzania, respectively. She is Burundi by ethnicity. She and her family came to Arizona in 2007 and made this state their home.
After high school, she earned her bachelor’s degree at Arizona State University (ASU) and is currently working towards her master’s in public policy at ASU as well.
In her culture, many meetings end with a prayer, and they start praying by saying her name, Dusenge, which means “let us pray” in the Kirundi language. She loves her name because it reminds her of where she comes from and the collective culture and community values she holds.
Her favorite thing about Arizona is its food culture and the diversity of its options.