FTS is happy to announce that three new staffers have joined the global staff today, expanding our reach and impact.
“I am excited to welcome our talented three new colleagues that join our FTS family,” said FTS Executive Director Bukeni Waruzi. “As part of our global expansion including in Southeast Asia and Central Africa and our focus on pathfinder countries, I believe that they will strengthen our work in Vietnam and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and our global innovative advocacy to end modern slavery.”
Our newest staffers:
Eddy Byamungu Lwaboshi
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Great Lakes Manager | Goma, DRC
Eddy Byamungu Lwaboshi is a human rights attorney, youth trainer, researcher, and expert in peacebuilding through community-based engagement with armed groups. Before joining Free the Slaves, Eddy worked as a consultant for Peace Direct U.K. and with World Vision International as a senior peacebuilding and advocacy officer. He has also worked for Aide et Action pour la Paix as a program manager in charge of land and natural resources projects. As well, he has worked as a facilitator for Watchlist and the MONUC peacekeeping mission’s work to end the recruitment and use of children in armed groups in eastern DRC. Eddy holds a master’s in international humanitarian law and is a law school lecturer and researcher at the Free University of the Great Lakes Countries. He has authored books on the legal status of children enlisted in armed groups, the protection of child prisoners of war, judicial independence, and the recognition of customary power in land management. Eddy speaks English, French, Lingala and Swahili. He likes traveling, gospel songs and peace.
Brittany Hamzy
Policy and Advocacy Officer | Washington, D.C.
Brittany Hamzy is passionate about tackling the social, cultural, and political issues that hinder peaceful, just and inclusive societies. Before joining FTS, much of her work focused on the Middle East. She promoted human rights education in Iran and conducted research and advocacy on human trafficking in the Arab Gulf. Her work on human trafficking has been published on platforms such as Open Democracy and Newsweek. An avid traveler and serial language learner, she has lived in Italy, the United Arab Emirates and the U.K. She received a bachelor’s in Middle Eastern and Islamic studies from New York University and a master’s in Near and Middle Eastern studies from SOAS, University of London.
Romcy Madronio
Southeast Asia Regional Manager | Hanoi, Vietnam
Romcy Madronio brings a decade of experience to Free the Slaves from previous work in academics, government, nonprofits and businesses in the Philippines and Vietnam. Before joining Free the Slaves, Romcy managed a community-based youth leadership program in the Philippines for the Ayala Foundation, which he expanded to several sites including Muslim Mindanao conflict areas. He became the Ayala Corporation’s Business Club coordinator, enabling efforts to foster business synergy and community outreach. As a project management officer, Romcy developed financial monitoring and report streamlining for various initiatives of Ayala’s corporate resources group. Romcy holds a university degree in education from Xavier University in the Philippines and a diploma in global environmental issues from the East-West Center in Hawaii, which he attended as a U.S. State Department scholar. He is also an active mentor of the U.S. government’s YSEALI (Young Southeast Asian Leadership Initiatives) in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region.
