Egide Nimubona
Meet EGIDE
Egide is a native of Burundi, a longtime resident of Wisconsin, a naturalized U.S. citizen, a teacher, an engineer, and a refugee.
Journey Through Conflict
He fled Burundi in the 1990s during the country’s brutal civil war. Welcomed in Canada and later in the United States, Egide found professional success as an engineer and consultant.
Life in Wisconsin
Today, Egide lives with his wife in Appleton, Wisconsin. He works as a mechanical engineering instructor at a local technical college, sharing his knowledge and experience with the next generation.
Humble Beginnings
Like most children in Burundi, Egide grew up in a family that relied on subsistence farming. His parents made extraordinary sacrifices to educate their seven children—selling farm produce, livestock, and often borrowing money to cover school fees.
A Community’s Support
At times, Catholic missionaries who operated the local schools would reduce or waive tuition for his family. Egide remains deeply grateful to his parents, his community, and the missionaries who believed in him and supported his education.
Giving Back
Driven by gratitude and a desire to give back, Egide founded the Burundi Education Fund—now Beyond the Camp. His mission is to help children from his homeland access education and break the cycle of poverty for themselves, their families, and their communities.