Makaya Revell was born in 1986 in Democratic Republic of Congo. His parents were professionals, and he and his four younger brothers grew up in relative comfort in a country where the danger of violence and death was an everyday reality. He was just 11 years old when the current civil war began, and when he turned 16 the conflict touched his own family and he fled to the United States to seek asylum. His father and youngest brother were murdered at that time, and his mother died when he was 18, adding him and his remaining brothers to the exploding numbers of orphans of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In the United States Makaya spent one year in detention, then a caseworker secured his release and he was placed in foster care. After turning 18 he was brought to York, PA to live at Friendship House, a residence for immigrant family groups and unaccompanied minors which was run by the Golden Vision Foundation. It was here that he met Drs. Elizabeth and Alvin Revell, who adopted him in 2006.

Makaya received his B.A. in International Relations from York College of Pennsylvania in 2015, receiving numerous awards including induction into Pi Sigma Alpha, Political Science Honor Society and selection for Who’s Who Among Students In American Colleges & Universities. In 2017 he received his M.A. in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from American University, where he received the The Pat and Jerry Mische Family Scholarship for demonstrating potential to make a significant contribution to peace and conflict resolution in Africa.

Makaya has been a frequent speaker at local high schools, colleges, and community groups on various topics centering on the situation in Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2017 he gave a TedX talk, “Giving a Chance to a Refugee,” at American University. He is a fluent speaker of five languages: French, English, Lingala, and Kiyombe in addition to his native language of Kicongo. He has participated on several championship soccer teams, and he holds a brown belt in Judo. He founded the Marie Mambu Makaya Foundation in 2012.