Ashinaga Africa Initiative Undergraduate Scholarships offers scholarships to students from select African countries to study for undergraduate degrees at the world’s leading universities in countries such as Japan, US, UK etc

Ashinaga presents the “Ashinaga Africa Initiative” aiming to provide higher education to 20 brilliant students from Sub-Saharan African countries each year, some of which are among the poorest in the world, and encourage them to become leading professionals in their own countries.

SCHOLARSHIP AT A GLANCE:

CategoryDetails
Scholarship NameAshinaga Africa Initiative Undergraduate Scholarships
Offered ByAshinaga
Eligible Countries37 Sub-Saharan African countries (listed above)
LevelUndergraduate
FieldAny field (technical and vocational degrees not accepted)
Target GroupOrphaned or bereaved students with academic potential
Number of Awards20
ValueFull scholarship covering tuition, accommodation, insurance, flight, and monthly stipend
Duration4 years
EligibilityCompleted secondary school, proficient in English, French or Portuguese, top 10% of class, born after 1st September 2001
Required DocumentsHigh School Term Report/Transcript, Final High School Examination Results Certificate, Passport, National ID Card or Birth Certificate
Selection ProcessApplication assessment, individual interviews, examination
Application DeadlineDecember 31, 2024
Application MethodOnline application (link provided) or by post

Fact About The Ashinaga Initiative

  1. Empowering the Orphaned: Ashinaga Initiative provides education and support to orphaned students from Sub-Saharan Africa, giving them a chance to become leaders and change-makers in their communities.
  2. 100-Year Vision: Ashinaga has a bold vision to develop 10,000 leaders over the next 100 years who will contribute to the development of Sub-Saharan Africa.
  3. Global Reach: Ashinaga scholars study at top universities worldwide, including in Japan, the US, UK, and other countries, gaining international exposure and expertise.
  4. Full Ride Scholarship: Ashinaga covers 100% of tuition, accommodation, insurance, and living expenses for four years, ensuring scholars focus on their studies, not finances.
  5. Leadership Development: Ashinaga’s program includes intensive leadership training, mentorship, and networking opportunities to equip scholars with skills to drive positive change.
  6. Selection Rigor: Only 20 students are selected annually from thousands of applicants, making Ashinaga one of the most competitive scholarships globally.
  7. Breaking Poverty Cycles: By educating and empowering orphaned students, Ashinaga helps break intergenerational poverty cycles, transforming families and communities.
  8. Pan-African Impact: With scholars from 37 Sub-Saharan countries, Ashinaga fosters a pan-African community of leaders working together to address regional challenges.
  9. Holistic Support: Ashinaga provides comprehensive support, including academic preparation, language training, and cultural adaptation, ensuring scholars thrive abroad.
  10. Alumni Network: Ashinaga’s growing alumni network of leaders and change-makers is poised to drive transformative impact across Africa, creating a brighter future for generations to come.

Details For 2025 Ashinaga Africa Initiative Undergraduate Scholarships

We search and screen for potential candidates: orphaned or bereaved students with academic potential but who cannot afford to apply to university.

We provide them with a concentrated study camp for six months at Ashinaga’s facility, Kokorojuku, in Uganda and Senegal, where they are given dedicated support and assistance with their study of various subjects and languages, as they prepare to apply to highly ranked universities around the world. We also provide them with a full scholarship and living expenses for four years during their studies abroad.

We expect to see these young, educated people go back to their own countries and establish democratic and fulfilled societies, bringing people a higher national income and high-quality education. This movement will eventually contribute to the overall wellbeing of Sub-Saharan countries by helping to break the cycle of poverty, even though the effects will not be immediate, as they are when food or equipment is donated.

Requirements For 2025 Ashinaga Africa Initiative Undergraduate Scholarships

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 1st August 2021, including all of 2022?and 2023) or will have completed secondary school and received final exam results?before February 9th, 2024.
  • Be born after 1st September 2001.
  • 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.

Reward For 2025 Ashinaga Africa Initiative Undergraduate Scholarships

The Ashinaga (100-Year Vision) Scholarship provides a full scholarship that covers the cost of tuition, accommodation (during the terms and vacation), insurance, flight, and provides monthly stipend which covers food and necessary academic costs.

Required Documents For 2025 Ashinaga Africa Initiative Undergraduate Scholarships

To apply, candidates must be ready to submit the following documents;

  • 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)**
  • Photo or scan of?at least one?of the following. documents;Passport, National ID Card or Birth Certificate.

Eligible Countries For 2025 Ashinaga Africa Initiative Undergraduate Scholarships

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 For 2025 Ashinaga Africa Initiative Undergraduate Scholarships

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.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question 

How many students do you select per country?

Answer 

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.

Question

Why is the age limit 23?

Answer

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.

Question 

Why is the scholarship only for orphans?

Answer 

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.

Question

Can exceptions be made to the eligibility criteria?

Answer

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

Question

Why only undergraduate level?

Answer

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.

Question

How will my university/country of study be decided?

Answer

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.

Question

If I applied last year, can I apply again?

Answer

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

Question

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

Answer

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.

Question

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

Answer

Yes, you may still apply. Some students from Francophone countries with sufficient quality English can study in English.

Question

What is the registration form for?

Answer

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.

Question

What is required for the Full Application and what does it assess?

Answer

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.

Question

What is assessed during the Ashinaga Assessment Day?

Answer 

Applicants are assessed on their knowledge and aptitude, challenges faced and future planning and initiative. You will be assessed through an examination and interviews.

How To Apply For 2025 Ashinaga Africa Initiative Undergraduate Scholarships

Interested and qualified applicants should apply using the link below.

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.

This application and the selection process are FREE. Any person requesting payment at any stage of the process, does against Ashinaga’s will, and should not be paid. Deadline is 31 December, 2024