Boubacar Balde is the Founder and President of Balde Support Education & Immigration Inc.
(BSEI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping immigrant students and families achieve educational success through mentorship, college access, leadership development, and community support.
Originally from Guinea (Conakry), Boubacar moved to the United States in 2019 and became a United States citizen in 2024. When she first arrived in the United States, she spoke very little English. Determined to succeed, she enrolled in the Indianapolis Public Schools Newcomer
Program while teaching herself English through YouTube, independent study, and daily
conversations with native English speakers. Her determination, resilience, and willingness to learn helped her overcome the language barrier and adapt to life in a new country.
Despite the challenges she faced as an immigrant, Boubacar remained committed to her education. She attended Ivy Tech Community College, where she earned an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts and graduated with honors. Her success as an honors student gave her the confidence and motivation to continue pursuing higher education.
She later transferred to Purdue University West Lafayette, where she joined the Honors College and studied Political Science with a concentration in Law and Society. Her academic journey strengthened her passion for public service, education, and advocacy for immigrant
communities.
Boubacar is trilingual and speaks Fulani, her native language, as well as French and English.
Her multilingual background allows her to connect with students and families from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
She is currently pursuing a Master of Legal Studies at the Indiana University Robert H.
McKinney School of Law. Her goal is to focus on immigration law and continue advocating for immigrants by helping them access educational opportunities and navigate challenges within their communities.
In addition to her work in education and immigrant advocacy, Boubacar is also an author and cultural storyteller. She is the author of the Savvy Yazzy series, including Savvy Yazzy: African Adventure The Fulani Culture and Savvy Yazzy: Storytelling with the Griot. Through these books, she shares African and Fulani culture, traditions, and storytelling with children and
families. Purchases of her books help support BSEI and its educational programs.
Inspired by her own experiences, Boubacar founded Balde Support Education & Immigration
Inc. (BSEI) to ensure that immigrant youth and families have the resources, guidance, and encouragement needed to achieve their educational goals. Through BSEI, she hopes to inspire young people to believe in themselves, pursue higher education, and become future leaders in
their communities.
Boubacar believes that education is one of the most powerful tools for changing lives. Her mission is to encourage every young person, regardless of their background to pursue learning, overcome obstacles, and build a brighter future through education.