For Universities

With the help of the Ministries of Education, we identified the top ranked 3-5 schools in each Anglophone sub-Saharan country and carried out in-person visits. We established partnerships which entail:   

• Regular meetings between Ashinaga and these schools to discuss grade 10-12 students who meet our criteria. Each year, the school helps us identify the two students from that country who will become our next Ashinaga Candidates. 

• Collaboration between Ashinaga and these schools so that the local faculty can further support students with additional online classes, the opportunity to participate in competitions, additional tutoring, additional textbooks or computers. 

All Ashinaga students meet the following criteria:  

• Are in the top 5% of their class in high school.   

• Are amongst the top 10% of the country in their national exams.   

• Have a strong desire to physically return to the continent and to make a significant contribution to their communities, their country or sub-Saharan Africa.  

• Have demonstrated a unique desire to impact their communities through personal initiative.  

• Are able to clearly demonstrate through their extracurricular activities the link between their target field of study and professional ambitions.   

• Are of low-income within national standards in a government school, or on a scholarship if attending a private school. Also unable to access local or government scholarships to higher education institutions. 

• Are no older than 22 years old.  

• Have no children or dependents and are determined to have the physical and emotional tenacity to be successful while studying abroad. 

Our Ashinaga USA students all come from families qualified as “low-income” as per national standards, some with one or no parents. Ashinaga USA is constantly seeking the support of donors for our Scholarship Supplement fund. This fund covers incidental expenses as well as the gap between the full scholarship and total cost of attendance.  

From April-October, we provide guidance on students’ Common Applications, as well as intensive English study for Duolingo preparation via IXL. Students apply to universities based on Ashinaga USA’s research on full financial aid and scholarships available for international students, and guide students to research majors and minors that align with their academic interests. Students attend virtual information sessions hosted by universities and partake in Initialview interviews to provide additional context to their applications and profiles.  

From November until arrival in the US, each student completes an academic preparation curriculum, customized to their intended major. We focus mostly on Math (Pre-Calculus, Calculus I and Calculus  II) and Writing (creative and analytical writing exercises, book discussions, reports and oral presentations) by using resources we create and adapt and free online resources, such as Khan Academy and Scribbr. Chemistry, Physics, and Biology classes are added as pertinent.  

Students also participate in college-level research programs such as Pioneer Academics or Horizon Inspires. These experiences prepare students to write a college-level research paper, learn to use library resources, and participate in discussion-based classes. 

Once accepted to a university, we encourage Ashinaga USA students to build relationships with key university staff before they arrive on campus. They learn to use all resources available to them at Health Centers, Financial Aid Office, Writing Centers, Academic Advising, International Student office, and Career Services. To supplement the international orientation students will take part in at their universities, we address the realities of living in the US as an International Student prior to their arrival. Students learn about Black American history through videos and engage in discussions about culture shock and budgeting.  

In addition to visa sponsorship, we provide additional support for our refugee students in navigating the particularly complex process of traveling and applying for visas as a refugee by consulting and collaborating with other organizations.  

During their four years at university, students are encouraged to continue taking initiative and advocating for themselves. 

• Mental Health: Ashinaga partners with a short-term virtual counseling service that can serve as a supplement to the university counseling center during high-demand periods or academic breaks. 

• Personal Portfolio: A Smartsheet workspace where each Ashinaga student is responsible for uploading and self-reporting all grades, extracurriculars, appointments with advisors, etc.  

• Success Plans: As soon as there is an indication of academic decline, Ashinaga staff steps in to meet with the student. When applicable, Ashinaga staff curate a joint success plan with university faculty and deans to ensure the student stays on track to graduate in four years. 

Ashinaga Proposal: A four-year research project that addresses a specific issue in Africa and proposes a solution. Students are encouraged to incorporate classwork and faculty members into their proposal process. Selected students attend the annual African Diaspora Investment Symposium where they can discuss their research with potential supporters and investors.  

Internships: Ashinaga students are required to complete at least one 8-week internship in sub-Saharan Africa during the summer while at university. Internships are registered through our Personal Portfolio and approved by Ashinaga. The internship should augment the student’s future employment prospects and relate to the future impact they want to make back on the continent. 

We are grateful for the companies and organizations who have made our work possible through their pro-bono contributions, including: College Planner Pro, Editate, Arborbridge, InitialView, Duolingo, Horizon Inspires, Pioneer Academics, the African Diaspora Network, and our colleagues at the HALI Access Network.