Butoyi Elia has joined MRS as an Refugee Employment Specialist. Welcome, Butoyi!

I was born in Rwanda, where my parents lived as refugees from Burundi. At age two in 1994, we moved to Tanzania in a refugee camp for 13 years until we came to the United States in 2007. In the U.S, I started in high school in 9th grade. Since I was unable to speak English I was required to repeat 10th grade. It took me 5 years to finish high school. After graduating in 2012, I went to two years of community college, then to University in 2015 where I double majored in International Relations and Social Justice. Soon after I graduated from University, I interned for the International Rescue Committee (IRC) until I obtained an opportunity to go to France for a master’s in International Relations and Diplomacy in one of American institutions abroad. When I came back in June 2020, I worked for United Way as a Community Operator until my contract ended. In March 2021 I moved to Louisville from Charlottesville, Virginia, because of my two brothers: one lived in Louisville and another lived in Hebron, Kentucky. In June 2021 I worked as Recruitment Administrator for UPS until the contract ended. Since July 11th, I have been an employee for Catholic Charities of Louisville.