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
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 (2023)
| Requirements (2022) | Applicants must: Have lost one or both parents. Have completed secondary school and received the results of their national secondary school examination (technical and vocational degrees not accepted) within the last two years (any date after 2nd August 2020, including all of 2021 and 2022) or will have completed secondary school and received final exam results before February 28th, 2023. Be born after 1st September 2000. Not have the means to attend university abroad without external financial support. Be proficient in English, French or Portuguese. Be regularly ranked in the top 10% of their class during their last 2 or 3 years of secondary school. Be able to participate in the two Ashinaga preparatory programs, over the course of one year, before attending university. Be committed to return home, or to Sub-Saharan Africa, and contribute to society in Sub-Saharan Africa after graduating from university. Have no dependents who could interfere with academic progress. Have a good enough health condition to be able to study abroad. |
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| Required Documents (2022) | This is a list of the documents you will need to submit as part of your application: Applicant Registration Photo or scan of at least one of the following documents; Passport, National ID Card or Birth Certificate Photo or scan of your most recent High School Term Report/Transcript Photo or scan of your final High School Examination Results Certificate (if applicable)** **For students receiving their examination results in February 2022, we will ask you to send your examination certificate as soon as possible after you have received it. Full Application Passport style photograph Passport or National ID Card Birth certificate of applicant. Death certificate of deceased parent(s), including the deceased parent’s name, or alternative official documentation proving death of parent(s) or orphan status. All term reports / secondary school transcripts from the last 2 years. Final secondary school examination certificate, showing grades in each subject* A letter of recommendation from a principal or schoolteacher. This should be inclusive of their email address, phone number and must contain information about your performance and character whilst at secondary school. All recommendation letters should contain an official signature or stamp. Academic transcripts or other results from university (if applicable). Certificates for extracurricular activities, training courses, jobs or other commitments (if applicable). |
| Eligible Countries (2022) | 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 (2022) | 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.
