Apply for the Ashinaga Africa Initiative

Now recruiting for 2018 leadership program

The Ashinaga Africa Initiative began in 2014. Its mission is to contribute to Sub-Saharan Africa's expanding role in global development through increasing access to higher education abroad. We support orphaned students who are committed to returning home and initiating change, by providing access to full financial support to study at a university abroad (equivalent to an undergraduate degree). Ashinaga support covers tuition, accommodation, travel costs, and other necessary fees.

Learn more about the Ashinaga Africa Initiative

CLICK HERE TO APPLY ONLINE (FRANCOPHONE RECRUITMENT)

Requirements

Applicants must:

• Be an orphan, having lost one or both parents
• Be 23 or younger, having been born after October 1, 1995
• Have graduated high school within the past two years
• Be committed to returning to Sub-Saharan Africa once they have finished their studies abroad

Required Documents

• Completed application form
• Working email address and telephone number
• Document proving the death of one or both parents, such as a death certificate
• Proof of age, such as a birth certificate, national ID or passport
• Secondary school/high school graduation certificate
• Results from final national exams
• Academic report cards from the last two years of high school/secondary school
• Recommendation letter from a principal or teacher
• Passport-style photo of yourself
• Both essays described below

Essays

Please type/write using a separate sheet of paper. If you choose to handwrite your essays, please write in print and with black ink. Essays written with pencils will not be accepted.

• Essay 1: Please describe how you grew up and experienced losing your parent(s). What challenges have you faced after the loss of your parent(s) and what have you done in order to overcome them? Please write in detail, especially the actions you took to continue and further your education. (Maximum 500 words)
• Essay 2: Please describe the goals you wish to achieve after graduating from university abroad. Outline how the skills and knowledge you gain from a university degree would help you reach your goals when you return to Sub-Saharan Africa. (Maximum 500 words)

Remember that these essays are personal—they are about you and so should only be written by you. Ashinaga is interested in how you make the most of what is available to you.

Eligible Countries

Anglophone and Lusophone Recruitment (October to February) (Applications open from October 1st)

Angola, Botswana, Cape Verde, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe

Francophone Recruitment (March to June) (Applications open from 1st March)

Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Gabon, Guinea Conakry, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Republic of Congo, Senegal and Togo.

Click here for information about how to apply for the Francophone Recruitment.

How to apply for the Anglophone and Lusophone Recruitment

There are three ways to apply for the Ashinaga Africa Initiative, although we prefer online applications or those sent by email. There is no application fee, and you must never pay anyone to apply or to apply on your behalf.

Please note that if you apply by post, all submitted documents will not be returned to you. Therefore, you must send copies of documents ONLY.

Application process

Frequently asked questions

Why are you not recruiting from my country?

We are currently unable to accept applications from Guinea, Chad, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, South Sudan, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Eritrea, and Niger. We are currently preparing our strategy for these countries and are planning to open applications there in the near future.

Why is the age limit 23?

There are two reasons for this. The first is that Ashinaga wants to prioritize young people for this leadership program, and the second is that students aged 23 or older typically have greater difficulty in obtaining a student visa to study abroad.

Why are there two rounds of recruitment?

There are two rounds of recruitment to correspond with the differences in timing for the application procedures of English-speaking, Portuguese-speaking, and French-speaking universities.

Why is the scholarship only for orphans?

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

Why only undergraduate level?

As there are many other organizations, universities, and foundations offering funding for masters degrees, we have decided to prioritize undergraduate university studies.

How will my university/country of study be decided?

This will be decided during the study camp for students selected for this program. It will be decided together with the student, but the final decision ultimately lies with Ashinaga. It will depend on numerous criteria, including visa requirements, language requirements, academic grades, and the availability of the student's desired course of study.

If I applied last year, can I apply again?

As long as you still satisfy the requirements, you are welcome to apply again.

I do not have one of the required documents. What should I do?

All of the required documents listed are necessary to apply, particularly proof of age and proof of the death of a parent. If you do not have a death certificate, then any other official document can be considered, including an obituary, a court record, or an official letter from a principal/local government official.

I am from a French-speaking country but want to study in English. Can I still apply?

You may still apply, however such students would have to apply in the 2nd round of recruitment, and would then have to wait until mid-July 2019 to join the program.

Promotional Materials

If you would like to promote Ashinaga and the Ashinaga Africa Initiative at your school, company, or organization, then you can download our promotional posters and flyers here.

Poster examples:

LINK : http://en.ashinaga.org/apply/aai/