In My Own Words: Jeanne Mukarukundo

How my childhood shaped my career

Growing up in a rural farming family, Jeanne watched smallholder farmers in her community plant with hope only to see their crops destroyed by floods and droughts. As a child, she wondered how she could help. After high school, she pursued a degree in Soil and Water Management, and when she discovered One Acre Fund, it felt like a natural fit; an organization whose mission matched the passion she had carried since childhood. 

Years later, Jeanne and her team would go on to lead the production and distribution of over 100 million tree seedlings across Rwanda! Yes, you read that right, 100 million! But her roots run much deeper. In this piece, she shares why she sees her career as an avocado tree, how she supports farmers in building resilience and prosperity, and the many ways she continues to grow impact, both at work and beyond.

How has it been working at One Acre Fund? Are there any milestones that stand out?

Working at One Acre Fund has been incredibly rewarding. I joined as a Project Specialist focused on product adoption, and one of my first major projects was decentralizing tree seedling production to bring nurseries closer to farming communities. As the project grew, I briefly led the grain market access team before fully transitioning to scale up tree production nationwide.

Two milestones stand out. First, supporting the production and distribution of more than 100 million seedlings. Today, we work with over 2,000 young entrepreneurs in seedling production, and a team of 130 youth staff coordinate these efforts across Rwanda. Second, fostering a culture of innovation. I co-founded a staff savings group that has grown from 15 to 342 members. One Acre Fund’s support turned this dream into reality, showing how deeply it invests in its people.

If your career was a tree, which one would it be and why?

That’s a tough question because I work with trees and appreciate many types. But if I had to choose, I’d be an avocado tree. Just as avocados provide both food and income, I strive to deliver both social and economic value through my work.

What’s the biggest impact you have seen from your work on farmers’ lives or the environment?

One story that always stays with me is from Rwanda’s Kirehe District. A young woman teamed up with her father to engage local farmers in planting grafted avocado trees. Through a partnership with One Acre Fund, they helped 400 farmers plant 123,000 avocado seedlings.

Today, those farmers are already harvesting fruit and selling it through our market access program. That income is helping families pay school fees, meet household needs, and invest in their futures. 

I’m also reminded of, a woman from Nyamagabe District, a mother and nursery operator who, before joining our program, lived with her husband in her in-laws’ home. After just one tree-planting season, she earned enough to finish building her own house.

These are powerful reminders that trees aren’t just about the environment; they are vehicles for transformation.

If your team described you using three emojis, which ones would they pick and do you agree?

 🌱 — because I’m always advocating for growth and nurturing
 💪 — hardworking 
 💚 — because I genuinely care about people and the planet

When you are not in the field or tending to seedlings, where can we find you? 

I often spend time thinking up new ideas or mentoring young professionals, especially women in agriculture and conservation. Coming from a rural background, mentorship was unfamiliar to me until I joined One Acre Fund, where it shaped my growth. That experience fuels my passion to support the next generation of girls to become confident leaders. Agriculture and conservation have traditionally been male-dominated fields, but we cannot achieve meaningful, lasting impact without full participation from women. Empowering them isn’t optional; it’s essential for sustainable progress.

I also enjoy walking in nature to clear my mind and spark new ideas, and spending quality time with my family.

Complete this sentence: “At One Acre Fund, I don’t just grow trees, I grow ….

…hope, nurture leaders, and cultivate lasting change.