Our Work

SUPPORT DURING UNIVERSITY YEARS

Once Candidates have been accepted to university and complete the Preparation Year, we refer to them as Ashinaga Scholars.

During the Scholars’ four years at university, we provide resources and support for academics, mental health, and professional development. We encourage our Scholars to take initiative and practice advocating for themselves.

Academic and Professional Development Programming for our Scholars includes:

  • Ashinaga students are required to complete one 8-week internship on the continent before graduation, and many also complete internships in the USA. We seek collaboration with individuals and companies who can coordinate internships for our students.

    If your company or organization has an internship opportunity available for Ashinaga students, please click here to fill out the form!

  • Since 2021, Ashinaga USA has participated in the global effort to promote access to education to refugee students by accepting 3 refugee students and supporting their studies at university in the US. Like all Ashinaga USA Scholars, these students have been offered full or almost full scholarships. We provide additional support in the complicated process of traveling and applying for visas as refugees upon consulting and collaborating with other non profit organizations and intergovernmental organizations that work with refugee students.

  • Tsudoi ("gathering" in Japanese) is held remotely every year for professional development and leadership workshops, as well as guest speakers.

  • Exploration USA Weekend is held in a different city each year for students to learn about the culture and history of the US, and to promote inter-generational bonding between cohorts.

  • Our students greatly benefit from one-on-one mentorship from Africans who have studied abroad, work in the US, or moved back to the continent. Arranging monthly mentorship sessions to one or more students provides invaluable insight.

    If you are interested in mentoring one of more of our students, click here for the form!

  • We offer support to those Scholars who are struggling in their academics and social adjustment so as to give them the best chance at graduating in 4 years.

  • Ashinaga USA Scholars build accountability to themselves through the use of a self-reporting online platform where they keep detailed records of their academic grades, their progress on their Ashinaga Proposal, and the development of their professional networking.

  • The Ashinaga Proposal is a four-year research or entrepreneurial project that identifies and explores in depth an issue that the Scholar has directly faced in their home community. The proposal often parallels the Scholar’s academic major, so the Scholar has the ability to build on his or her research with faculty insight. Scholars are also required to consult professional experts and identify a forum to publicly present their finalized Ashinaga Proposal in an effort to connect to potential investors and professional mentors.