Kibiriti Majuto was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He came to the United States at 14 through the refugee resettlement program. He earned an associate’s degree from Piedmont Virginia Community College and then a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Africana Studies from William & Mary.
Kibiriti is a graduate student at Yale School of the Environment, planning to study Climate Change Science and Solutions. He is excited to learn more about climate change, specifically looking at adaptation and mitigation strategies within Sub-Saharan Africa, sustainable development finance, and foreign affairs. He hopes to assemble the skills necessary to contribute to the discourse on climate adaptation and sustainable infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa.
He is currently a Climate Innovation Intensive Coordinator at Yale Center for Business and Environment (CBEY) and Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking at Yale. Kibiriti enjoys watching anime, running, and listening to afro-fusion and amapiano in his free time.
Why did you become a mentor?
I became a mentor because I firmly believe in the transformative power of mentorship. I have been fortunate to have had exceptional mentors who guided me through my educational journey. Their support has been invaluable, especially during challenging times. I always strive to enhance my growth mindset, and mentoring provides a platform for continuous personal growth.
How long have you been mentoring with Spark the Journey?
I have been a mentor for one academic year and will start my second academic year this year.
What activities do you do with your mentee?
We usually explore various eateries across Washington, DC, where we catch up about life, school, books, movies, and college.
What has been a highlight of your mentoring experience so far?
A highlight for me has been having my mentee come to me with questions about life, college, and current events and just engaging in conversation about the mundane activities of life.
What is one of your mentee’s dreams?
One of his dreams is to live a simple life, where he does not have many stressors. To live a comfortable life.
How are you helping them achieve it?
Our regular Monday check-in calls have been instrumental venues for me to engage with my mentee about the type of life he desires and a space for me to ask many questions about his future. The calls are an excellent way for me to listen to my mentee, help provide various schools of thought about goals and life achievement and share my knowledge on creating a life purpose and drive. I encourage my mentee to think about how his desire to go to college can aid him in achieving his goal of living a stress-free life.
How has Spark helped you in your mentoring relationship?
I love Ranya’s role during our check-in calls, offering suggestions of things I could be doing with my mentee. I love the constant follow-ups on where we left out in our last conversation, and that allows me to follow up with my mentee about the goals we have set up for the month.
What advice would you give anyone considering mentoring?
If you feel called to be a mentor, you should sign up to be one! However, you must recognize that it will take some time and patience to reach the level of relationship where your mentee feels comfortable with you. Mentorship is a relationship, and it’s going to take time to cultivate and grow.