| Requirements () | 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, . 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 () | 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 , 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 the 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). |
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| Eligible Countries () | 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. |
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| Selection Process () | 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. |
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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.
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.
