Help Bonte become a neurosurgeon in Burundi

My name is Bonte Nayisavye. Following a dream I had as a young girl to become a neurosurgeon in my home country, I have just graduated from Kenya Methodist University after 7 years of medical school due the generous support of many amazing people. I give thanks to God for finishing this first part of my VISION of becoming a neurosurgeon. However, my journey is not over and has reached a critical juncture and I find myself in a position to seek your gracious support once again. I would come to you for your help on these two things: the INTERNSHIP and the USMLE.

1. Internship: The previous 7 years only have value if I undertake an internship in a hospital in Kenya. And for the foreigners here in Kenya, internship is a family effort to pay rent, bills, and food as you serve in any given hospital without payment. I cannot be given a Doctor's License unless I do an internship for one year. Your network and connections may hold the key to any support that could sustain me while I prepare for the USMLE. Anything you can provide would be an incredible gift.

2. Following the internship, I would like to move into a residency/master’s program. One way to do this is to succeed in taking the USMLE and passing it.

3. USMLE: This is a US medical examination, if you pass it you get an opportunity to directly practice medicine in a specialized field in the US. You might ask why USMLE? This exam is the best for a residency/master’s program, if I take it and pass, it will provide me with the opportunity to network with some of the best minds in the field of neuroscience in the USA. America is at the forefront of medical research and technological advancements. Following a residency program in the USA in neurosurgery, I will be accepted by the Burundian Ministry of Health.

Please consider sponsoring me for these important steps.

The financial burden is beyond my families means and I am at a crossroads unsure of how to move forward. This is where I humbly seek your support as a beacon of hope and inspiration. I am reaching out to you in my hour of need to ask for your assistance in being a sponsor and finding donations that will help me overcome these financial obstacles and pave the way for my career. I am open also to apply for scholarships and grants, if you do know of any please refer them to me.

I understand that times are tough for everyone, and I wouldn’t like to burden you at all but if you feel it in your heart to want to make a change not just in my life but also in those that will be impacted by my profession in Burundi. Your consideration means the world to me. I look forward to hearing from you and I hope we can embark on this journey together.

Thank you for taking the time to read my heartfelt plea.

With profound gratitude and warm regards,

Dr. Bonté

FACT:

Of the estimated 49,000 neurosurgeon specialists worldwide in 2019, there are only 565 neurosurgeons serving more than 1 billion people in Africa with less than a quarter of those in East Africa. And then there is Burundi, where there are only 2 neurosurgeons serving 12 million people. Due to the low patient neurosurgeon ratio; I would want to become one and more so among the very few female neurosurgeons.