Blaise Buma

Open Dreams was started based upon the fulfillment of my own dream. I was born into extremely modest circumstances in Bamenda, Cameroon and was afforded the opportunity to study at Washington & Lee on a full scholarship at the age of 21. I was the first member of my family to pursue a college education abroad, after making huge sacrifices and overcoming very difficult odds. My love for my native country and my unwavering commitment to one day better the region through economic and political advancement drove me to seek higher education in the developed world and today I am enabled and motivated to give back.

When I graduated from high school, I refused to be constrained by limited financial resources or geographical and cultural barriers to getting a decent education. I was lucky to have met Morgan, an American woman who had come to do some work in Cameroon. Morgan helped to pay for my college application process including paying for application fees, buying SAT and TOEFL prep. materials as well as paying for my flight to the US and buying my first laptop. I am always indebted to her for the time and resources she invested to help me realize my goal of studying in the US.

I am telling my story to inspire others who may want to give, reach out and help but do not know how. Thanks to the kindness of this young American girl, I was able to attend Washington and Lee University and I went to study abroad at the London School of Economics for one year where I discovered a passion for finance. Thereafter I interned at Deutsche Bank and returned to W&L for my senior year. I then was a Schwarzman Scholar studying in China, I currently work for a Venture Capital Firm in Mali, and will continue my education at the Harvard Business School next year.

I started Open Dreams to help others in a similar situation. I hope to someday return home and contribute to the political and economic development of my home country. Founding Open Dreams was the first step in this process.