APPLY TO THE AAI
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.
How to Apply
Applications for the Ashinaga Africa Initiative are open! Click on the button below to access our online application system and start your application.
Requirements (2024)
| Requirements (2024) | Applicants must:
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| Required Documents (2024) |
This is a list of the documents you will need to submit as part of your application:
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| Eligible Countries (2024) |
Applicants must have citizenship and have completed/are completing high school in one of the following countries:
Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, CAR, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, DRC, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry, Kenya, Kingdom of eSwatini, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Seychelles, Sudan, Tanzania, The Gambia, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. |
| Selection Process (2024) | Applications for all countries will be assessed after the application deadline, and successful applicants will be invited to a final assessment. During this assessment, 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. |
How to Apply for the AAI
There are three ways to apply for the Ashinaga Africa Initiative, although we prefer online applications. 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.
FAQ
How many students do you select per country?
Ashinaga takes great care to select and develop our students. We believe in quality over quantity and invest a significant amount of resources in those who are accepted into our programme. As a result of this, to ensure sustainability, we are only able to take about one student per country per year. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to select a student from each country every year.
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 programme, and the second is that students aged 23 or older typically have greater difficulty in obtaining a student visa to study abroad.
Why is the scholarship only for orphans?
Ashinaga takes great care to select and develop our students. We believe in quality over quantity and invest a significant amount of resources in those who are accepted into our programme. As a result of this, to ensure sustainability, we are only able to take about one student per country per year. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to select a student from each country every year.
Can exceptions be made to the eligibility criteria?
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 students applying for undergraduate university studies.
How will my university/country of study be decided?
This will be decided during the Ashinaga Study Camp for students selected for this programme. 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 a court record, affidavit, or an official letter from a local government official.
I am from a French-speaking country but want to study in English. Can I still apply?
Yes, you may still apply. Some students from Francophone countries with sufficient quality English can study in English.
What is the registration form for?
The registration form allows us to register applicants in our system, and we will use the information provided to determine if 1) the applicant fulfils all the eligibility requirements and 2) has a strong enough academic record to be considered for the program. Only applicants who are eligible when assessed according to these criteria will be invited to complete the Full Application.
What is required for the Full Application and what does it assess?
Applicants are scored on their academic performance, with readers looking to identify any patterns in a student’s performance. Applicants are also assessed on the challenges they have faced and overcome, their future plans and their leadership potential. You will submit 2 essays and respond to long and short answer questions.
What is assessed during the Ashinaga Assessment Day?
Applicants are assessed on their knowledge and aptitude, challenges faced and future planning and initiative. You will be assessed through an examination and interviews.