Rwanda’s international sitting volleyball referee, Joy Happiness Mukeshimana has been named among referees who will officiate at the 2023 Women’s World Super 6 Pajulahti.

The competition will take place in the City of Lahti at the Pajulahti Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Finland, from May 30 to June 4.

Mukeshimana was one of the referees who officiated the men’s "Para Volley Africa Sitting Volleyball Championship" held in Rwanda in September 2019.

As a woman referee in sitting volleyball for a decade now, Mukeshimana says she has had to overcome challenges that could have ended her career if she was not strong enough to withstand and focus on fulfilling her dream.

Mukeshimana, who also holds a bachelor's degree in biomedical laboratory sciences, tried out different disciplines while in secondary school, such as volleyball, basketball and football.

During her advanced level of high school at Gatagara High School – a school for the disabled, she couldn’t find any other game apart from sitting volleyball, which was the most popular sport at the school.