Eliseus BAMPORINEZA

Born of a Rwandan mother and Burundian father, Eliseus Bamporineza is a Tujenge Africa Foundation alumnus and African Leadership Academy-MasterCard Foundation scholar, poet, and one of the beneficiaries of the Aspire Leaders Institute founded at Harvard University.

Prior to joining the United States International University -Africa based in Nairobi Kenya in August 2019 where he has just completed a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations, he attended a one-month pre-university orientation program in July 2019 at the University of Rochester in New York, United States.

Eliseus won the 2014 edition of the East African Students Essay Writing competition, and wrote a play titled "Amunguranka Ni yo Mazikesha" on democratic values, ranked first in the national competition in 2015. Concluding his high school studies, Eliseus emerged as one of the top students in the National Exam. He ranked third in the National Exam for entry in the medical field of studies at the university of Burundi in 2018 but decided to switch to his passion in International Affairs. 

In April 2021, he participated in the Writing and Reading Residency organized by the African Writers Trust (AWT) in partnership with Iowa International Writing Program, the 5-day residential program was held in Kampala Uganda, and brought together writers and readers engaging in a variety of literary activities.

In August 2021, he attended the Tanzania International Model United Nations (TIMUN). This annual conference that gives simulation experiences on what happens during the United Nations General Assembly took place from 23 to 26 August 2021 under the topic: Youth Engagement towards the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals Decade of Action. 

In February 2022, his AU-EU Essay (The AU-EU Partnership that Reaches the Underprivileged African) got selected as one of the top contributions ahead of the AU-EU Summit 2022.

From June to August 2022, he served as an intern for education catalyst program at Africa Leadership Academy.

In July 2022, he participated in the International Youth Diplomacy Conference held in Accra, Ghana under the theme, “Promoting Youth Participation in Sustainable Development Goals and Climate Change”.

From January to April 2023, he participated in a community service at the Missionaries of Charity – Home of Peace located in Kasarani, Nairobi Kenya.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 

African Leadership Academy (ALA)                                                                              Johannesburg, South AfricaEducation Catalyst Program Intern                                                                                  June -August 2022

• Completed the Innovation Project assigned to by the ALforEducation Team; wrote the research brief, concept note, evaluation scheme.
•  Delivered a final presentation at the end of the program to a group of peers and network members covering leadership journey over the course of the programme

Poetry Workshop and Contest                                                                                           Bujumbura, Burundi                                                                                                         

Organizer                                                                                                                               August 2021

• Wrote a project proposal to run a poetry workshop and contest for high school students in summer break and secured funds from MasterCard Foundation 
• Organized and ran the workshop, shared poetry skills with participants and awarded school material to all participants 

Tujenge Africa Foundation                                                                                         Bujumbura, Burundi

Mentor                                                                                                                       August 2019 – December 2022                                                                                                                                                                         

Reviewed students’ essays and provided guidance on their university applications                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

OTHER EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 

Aspire Leaders Institute - Remote                                                                    Harvard University – USA

Certified Fellow                                                                                              April - October 2022

• Acquired Leadership and entrepreneurial skills, design thinking
• Represented the same program in Burundi to help new applicants

International Youth Diplomacy Conference                                                                Accra, Ghana

Aspiring Diplomat                                                                                                         July 2022

Took part in a four days simulation of the United Nations General Assembly, Security Council and other agencies under the United Nations, sharpening diplomacy skills.

EDUCATION                                                                                                                                                                 

  United States International University Africa                                                                                       Nairobi - Kenya 

  Bachelor of Arts in International Relations                                                                                        September 2019 – April 2023

• MasterCard Foundation Scholar: Prestigious full scholarship awarded to outstanding students from sub-Saharan Africa 
• Coursework included: Diplomacy, Political Science, International Law, International Humanitarian Law, Refugees Studies, academic project in International Relations, Marketing Principles, community Service.

University of Rochester - physical                                                                                            Rochester, New York - USA 

Pre-university orientation under Africa Leadership Academy                                                    July – August 2019

• Relevant courses: English Literature, Computer Literacy, Design Thinking, Mathematics, Pop Culture and Diversity, Academic Strategies and Tactics, Psychology, Introduction to International Relations
• Project Writing and Pitching
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  Tujenge Africa Foundation                                                                                                          Bujumbura, Burundi 

Certificate of program completion in a gap year educational training                                              January 2018- June 2019

• A-level english classes, Leadership, Mathematics, African studies, Liberal Arts, and Entrepreneurship, Writing and Rhetoric
• Mentorship in project proposal writing and scholarship applications
• Awarded African Leadership Academy – MasterCard Foundation full scholarship for undergraduate program