Babson Undergrad Helps Launch Institute for Local Business People in Rwanda
Alex Souza Lopez graduates May 16th from Babson College. What makes this unique is that he will leave soon afterward for Rwanda where he will become head of business development and curriculum – and will help launch – the Rwanda English Language Institute (RELI).
Souza, the son of Julian Souza and Alexandra Lopez, of Mexico City, Mexico, became committed to this plan soon after he joined a Babson Management Consulting Field Experience (MCFE) team. Their mission was to research and help develop a sustainable business plan to establish an English language and management training institute in Rwanda that would focus on government and commercial professionals – and to make it profitable within 3 years of opening.
During the MCFE project in January, the team met with U.S. Ambassador to Rwanda, Stuart Symington; Nicholas Cannon, the British Ambassador to Rwanda; and local entrepreneur and project sponsor Alphonse Byusa.
Pictured front row: (left to right) Claudia Gutierrez, Ambassador Nicholas Cannon (Great Britain), Kristen Lang (Babson student), Susan Symington (wife of US ambassador); second row: Alex Souza, Kathy Byusa, Dennis Hanno (Babson undergrad dean); third row: Max Owen) and Chris Smith (Babson students), Ambassador Stuart Symington (U.S.), and Alphonse Byusa.
The Rwandan government under President Paul Kagame developed a plan to help the French and Kinyarwanda-speaking country to become more proficient in English and therefore assist in its economic development. RELI will play an important part in achieving this goal by focusing on middle-level managers and other professional people.
“This is a unique opportunity and a direct outcome of his work on this MCFE project. In today's tough economy it demonstrates a win-win outcome for all," said Rosemary Casey, manager of academic programs in the Undergraduate Center for Career Development. “It also highlights Babson’s commitment to social enterprise,” she added.
“Alphonse Byusa and I have been busy recruiting a second candidate from Babson to work on the project,” says Souza. “This is a fascinating opportunity to dive into a social entrepreneurship endeavor that will help foment Rwandan potential while fueling its educational prosperity.” 
