Financial support for orphaned students in Sub-Saharan Africa to study at a university abroad: The Ashinaga Africa Initiative

Finance August 10, 2023

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Ashinaga is first and foremost an organization that supports the education of orphaned young people.

Financial support for orphaned students in Sub-Saharan Africa to study at a university abroad: The Ashinaga Africa Initiative

Ashinaga Africa Initiative Cohort 11 (2024): Program Overview

Please read the AAI 2024 Applicant Guidebook for full details about the program and for support with your application.

The Ashinaga Africa Initiative (AAI) is an international leadership program that cultivates the next generation of leaders to contribute to the development of sub-Saharan Africa.

AAI Scholars have lost one or both parents and are committed to returning to sub-Saharan Africa to initiate change, innovation, and development. The AAI provides access to full financial support to study at university abroad (equivalent to an undergraduate degree), including tuition, room, travel costs and other necessary fees. The programme has three stages.

1. Study Camp and Preparation Camp

Ashinaga will select students from each Sub-Saharan African country to participate in a Study Camp in Uganda or Senegal from July to December 2024. Anglophone students will normally attend the Camp in Uganda, with Francophone students attending the Camp in Senegal. During the Study Camp, students are assisted in their academic preparation, university applications (to either Japan, the U.K., the U.S.A., or Europe), career planning and leadership development. After completing the Study Camp, the students will progress to a second camp called Preparation Camp. This happens between April and June 2024. Students prepare for the social, cultural, and academic differences they will discover abroad. Students will then proceed to university in August or September of 2024. All of the costs during both camps are fully covered by Ashinaga. 

Students who wish to join our Japanese language track, in which they study in the Japanese language at a university in Japan, will follow a similar schedule, however, they will focus on intensive Japanese language learning throughout the Study Camp. After the Study Camp, they will move to Japan to spend one or two years at a language school prior to starting their university studies. 

2. During University

The AAI helps students access full financial support to study abroad. The support covers the first possible qualification that can be earned, and the costs of a foundation or preparatory course will also be covered if required. Ashinaga has regional offices to support students during studies in Japan, the U.K., the U.S.A., France and Brazil. Scholars will participate in a mandatory internship in their home country or Sub-Saharan Africa and join Ashinaga’s leadership development programmes. The AAI does not accept applications from students who wish to study for a second degree or master’s degree. 

3. After Graduation

Scholars have the responsibility to return to their home countries or Sub-Saharan Africa within four years after graduating and contribute to the country/region while living there for at least one year. They will have to contact Ashinaga during this period to provide information about their activity and residency.

Important Information

Selection

Applications are open from 1st August 2023 and all applicants MUST register before the 12th of January 2024. After registration, eligible applicants will be invited to complete the full application form. After reviewing each application, successful applicants will be invited to the Ashinaga Assessment in April 2024 where Ashinaga conducts individual interviews and sets an examination to better understand students’ academic abilities and career goals in Sub-Saharan Africa. Students must bring all original academic documents and identification documents to the interview. Failure to do so may result in dismissal from the application process.

Becoming a Scholar

Students will only officially become the Scholars of the “Ashinaga Africa Initiative” after receiving admission from a university and a visa from the potential country of study. Please know that joining the Study and Preparation Camp does NOT guarantee admission to university or visa acceptance. University admission and visa application are the student’s own responsibility, but Ashinaga will do its best to support students in both.

Choosing a subject / country / university

Ashinaga takes students’ goals and preferences into account, but has the right to make the final decision with regards to selection of major, country and university. Students are able to express their initial choice of major at the time of interview, and a final decision will be made during the course of the Study Camp through consultation with Ashinaga. Scholars are encouraged to apply to the universities that Ashinaga has an existing relationship with, therefore it is not possible for students to choose universities themselves. Please note Ashinaga does not support candidates for medical (doctor), dentistry, veterinary science or pharmacy degrees although it does support three or four-year degrees in biomedicine. In addition, candidates wishing to study engineering should be aware that we will require particularly strong and relevant high school grades for a successful application.

APPLY ONLINE: The Ashinaga Africa Initiative