Support Flore Education's journey and mission for change.

My name is Flore Nikiema, and I am from Burkina Faso. Since childhood, I have been passionate about technology. In my country, 19% of people have access to electricity and 48% drinking water. Growing up in a community with limited technology and seeing the urgent need for electronic devices and basic resources like electricity and drinking water fueled my passion even more. This reality inspires me to use my education to make positive impacts. From a young age, I aimed to excel in high school to earn a scholarship, which would allow me to further my education in the US. I want to develop my skills in electronics to help provide my community with the essential resources needed for a better life.

In my final year of high school, I received a scholarship from Leading Change Africa that promised to support me to further my studies in the US and help me earn my bachelor's degree in my chosen field. I chose to pursue my studies in the computer engineering field not only for my passion for technology but also because I want to use my education to benefit my nation and leave a meaningful legacy.

I attended Madison College for two years and earned an associate degree in liberal arts in May 2024. At Madison, I began working towards my vision, gaining not only technical skills but also contributing to my community. I served as VP of Fellowship in Phi Theta Kappa, a STEM Ambassador, and participated in various volunteer activities. I also worked on valuable projects, including designing a smart solar tracker to harness Burkina Faso sunlight to electricity, which strengthened my confidence as a woman in engineering. Additionally, I was selected as a semi-finalist for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation scholarship but unfortunately was not a recipient of this prestigious scholarship.

Now, I am about to transfer to a four-year university to earn my bachelor's degree in computer engineering. However, my scholarship foundation recently informed all scholars that they are running out of funds and cannot support the next two years of my education. With my family's financial situation and the serious security crisis in my country, which is plagued by terrorism and economic instability, I have no other means to continue my studies.

I applied to schools and scholarships and got accepted to 4 schools, but financially limited to attend. I am planning to go to MSOE where I received a combined merit Scholarship and PTK membership to cover some of the expenses. However, they do not cover the full amount I would need to continue, and I am looking for support to help me afford school for the next 2 years. Being an international student, I am only able to work on campus at restricted hours to be able to cover the basic living expenses. I planned to save $2000 from my savings this summer. Having the support of $30,000 per year will enable me to cover my remaining tuition, health insurance, and academic supplies. Sometimes we may not choose the flow of our life's circumstances, but we might choose on how to pursue our dream no matter the cost and the challenges. I have faith that I will fulfill my goals and aspirations no matter the circumstances I face. I also need and will truly appreciate your support to realize my objectives.

Thanks for everything you will do to make it possible. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all of you and wish you more positivity in all aspects of your life. Remain blessed!