Leonard Tangishaka of Burundi carries the Torch at the 1997 World Scholar-Athlete Games 5K Run

In July 1990, Dan Doyle received an unexpected letter from the Honorable Cynthia Shepard Perry, U.S. Ambassador to Burundi. Ambassador Perry’s letter to Doyle would spawn what would become known as Project Burundi. Click here to read Ambassador Perry’s letter to Doyle.

Following the receipt of Ambassador Perry’s letter, Doyle and Institute officials established regular communication with Ambassador Perry and other U.S. Embassy officials in Burundi. The communication led to Doyle’s US Embassy visit to Bujumbura, Burundi in October 1990. During Doyle’s visit, Ambassador Perry arranged a series of meetings and dinners with Burundian sports officials, and arranged for Doyle to conduct several clinics with Burundi basketball players. At one clinic, Doyle befriended 19-year-old Leonard Tangishaka, a 6-10 basketball player and fine scholar. As a result of that first meeting, Leonard attended the 1993 World Scholar-Athlete Games as a guest of the Institute. At the Games, he was awarded a full scholarship to Mount Ida Junior College. Following his honors graduation from Mount Ida, Leonard was awarded a full scholarship to the University of Buffalo, from which he graduated with honors in 1997. Leonard is now a successful businessman residing in Boston.

During the visit to Bujumbura, Doyle was able to see the need for equipment and other assistance for Burundi basketball. Upon his return to the United States, Project Burundi was officially launched. The effort, which extended over two years, produced many results, including:

• In 1991, with the help of many college basketball coaches throughout the United States, the Institute sent approximately $35,000 worth of basketball equipment to Burundi. Ambassador Perry and Burundian officials hosted a special ceremony at a Burundi basketball court to present the equipment to the Burundi Basketball Federation.
• The Institute arranged for Rick Boyages, at the time Associate Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Boston College, to travel to Burundi to conduct clinics. While in Burundi, Coach Boyages trained what would become the first-ever Burundi National Basketball team that would travel to the United States.
• In 1991, the Institute arranged for the newly created Burundi National Basketball team to travel to the United States on an historical trip during which they played eight exhibition games against American competition. The Institute secured financial guarantees from the eight schools, as well as other sponsorships to cover all expenses for the team. The trip fostered other basketball exchanges between Burundi and the United States.
• Another result of Project Burundi has been an ongoing relationship between the country and the Institute through the World Scholar-Athlete Games. On a regular basis, Burundi has sent participants to the Scholar-Athlete Games.

Click here to read articles by Jim Donaldson of the Providence Journal and John Gearan of the Worcester Telegram regarding Project Burundi and the Burundi National Men’s Basketball Team’s visit to the United States.