From Conflict to Global Excellence: The Harris Tamanjong Story at Science Po Paris

In the heat of the Anglophone crisis in the North West Region in Cameroon in 2019, Harris Tamanjong maneuvered his way through, moving from GBHS Bamenda to GBHS Bafoussam Rural, where, as an IDP, he obtained his GCE Advanced Level with a stellar performance of 23/25 points, turning adversity into great academic achievement.

From there, he joined Open Dreams, which was his goal and motivation. Soon after, his journey took an extraordinary turn. Harris became the very first Open Dreams Scholar admitted to Sciences Po Paris, where he earned not one, but two prestigious full scholarships: the Émile Boutmy Scholarship and the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship. Choosing the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship, he completed his Bachelor's Degree in Economics and Society with distinction at Sciences Po's campus in Reims, as part of the Europe-Africa programme — a unique academic track that opened the door to a rich international journey. This included an internship at the headquarters of the Bank of Central African States (BEAC) in Yaoundé, within its Research, Studies and Statistics Department, before concluding with an exchange semester at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. These global-scale immersive experiences significantly enriched both his academic training and his real-world exposure.

In recognition of his outstanding academic performance, Harris was awarded a second Mastercard Foundation Scholarship to pursue graduate studies at Sciences Po’s School of Management and Impact Finance and Strategy program.

Today, Harris makes history once again as the first Open Dreams Scholar to graduate from Sciences Po with a Master's Degree — and to date, only one other Open Dreams Scholar (Graduate) is set to follow in his footsteps to Sciences Po, a revelation to just how pioneering his path has been.

Beyond his remarkable academic achievements, Harris is one of Open Dreams' most dedicated mentors. He has consistently invested his time, knowledge, and experience in supporting younger scholars, demonstrating that true success is measured not only by personal accomplishments but also by the lives we help transform.

We are incredibly proud of Harris. His achievements are not just personal milestones — they are victories for the entire Open Dreams community and an inspiration to countless young people across Cameroon and beyond. While studying at GBHS Bamenda and GBHS Bafoussam Rural, two of his science teachers who were also members of the Open Dreams team, frequently spoke about the opportunities that lay ahead during their lessons. Their encouragement kept Harris inspired, motivated, and focused, helping him sustain the drive to achieve excellent results. Today, the rest is history. This speaks of the profound influence educators have in helping dreamers attain their short and long-term aspirations.

Congratulations, Harris! We celebrate your parcours, your excellence, and your unwavering commitment to giving back. The best is yet to come.