our Founders
Ornella
Bayigamba
Born and raised in Rwanda, Ornella is an environmental engineering major and hopes to use her degree to design and develop alternative energy technology aimed at ending energy poverty in Africa in a sustainable manner. Outside of her studies, she loves to take part in various forums that discuss world affairs. She has had the pleasure of joining several of the Yale International Relations Association (YIRA) conferences as well as its High School teaching corps before getting the opportunity to be the organization's Vice President for the 2019-2020 academic year. It is during her tenure as VP that she worked with Richard on founding the Yale Model African Union, an initiative they hope to use to share Yale's immense resources with their African peers. Outside of YIRA, she loves to travel, paint, and eat international foods!
Richard Mbouombouo
Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Richard (he/him/his) is the son of two Cameroonian immigrants and a first-generation senior at Yale majoring in Ethics, Politics, and Economics with a concentration in inclusive economic development. At Yale, Richard has served on the board of the Black Solidarity Conference, Yale’s largest undergraduate conference with over 700 undergraduates of various races, religions, ethnicities, and communities gathering to discuss issues pertaining to the African Diaspora. Richard is also a Student Assistant at the Afro-American Cultural Center at Yale, a cultural house for New Haven members of the African diaspora and a home to over thirty resident student organizations. Outside of the classroom, Richard enjoys music production and is an avid basketball fan.