AFRICA | A young African refugee named Jeanbat Busisi has defied all odds against him to earn an Engineering degree at Arizona State University, United States, through the MasterCard scholarship.
Jeanbat, a Congolese who fled to Uganda in 1998 from his country with his family due to unbearable challenges and circumstances. They stayed in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, located in western Uganda, according to ALA.
While in Uganda, Jeanbat became a pioneering member of the COBURWAS, a volunteer-based, non-profit organization established by refugee youth in December 2005 in the Kyangwali refugee settlement.
He took part in the Hoima Hostels Program, a program designed to allow students from the refugee camp and neighboring Ugandan communities to access secondary school education outside of the refugee camp.
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“I believe in the mission of transforming Africa by educating and empowering socially responsible entrepreneurial leaders to unite communities and create sustainable peace, love, and prosperity,” he said.
This thought inspired Jeanbat to become educated no matter what. In 2013, he enrolled in the African Leadership Academy (ALA), where he studied for a diploma in Entrepreneurial Leadership and African Studies for two years.
While studying at ALA, Jeanbat won the Mastercard Scholarship, and he got accepted to Arizona State University to study for a bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering.
The MasterCard Scholarship at Arizona State University will provide graduate scholarships to train young African professionals at the Master’s level for various programs in the United States.
It is a fully funded scholarship that covers all the costs related to tuition, accommodation, visa, flight, books, meals, and living expenses. To apply, check HERE.
“When I went to college, I knew I wanted to do engineering, but did not want to just be an engineer who makes cool products. I had graduated from a unique and one-of-the-best leadership institution of its level,” Jeanbat said.
”I had just fallen in love with the leadership idea that when I see something wrong, I will do my best to fix it regardless of whether it is science or engineering related or not. For instance, when our societies feel broken, I want to feel like I can do my part to fix it irrespective of what I studied,” he added.
After a semester of exploring different engineering fields, he realized that Industrial Engineering perfectly aligned with his goals. He was drawn to its focus on optimizing systems involving people and technology.
While at Arizona State University, Jeanbat actively participated in student organizations. He served as the President of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineering (IISE). Aside from being a MasterCard scholar, he was also a Scholar, at Barrett, The Honors College.
He also served as the Associate Vice President, of the Coalition of International Students, the Global Guide for the University Global Guide Program the director of, Undergraduate Student Government, a member, of the Fulton Ambassador Program, and a member of the Intramural Soccer Team.
Jeanbat also earned an internship with Rogers Corporation, an American Company, which he intends to use to expand on his engineering knowledge and experience.
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