Apply! Ashinaga Scholarships for Orphans from sub-Saharan Africa 2017

Ashinaga, Japan-based non-profit organization offers scholarship 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

Application Deadline: 7th August 2017 

Offered annually? Yes

Eligible Field of Study: courses offered at candidate’s choice higher institution

To be taken at (country): Higher institutions outside of Africa, in countries such as Japan, US, UK etc

Eligible Countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Gabon, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Democratic Republic of Congo , Republic of Congo, Senegal, Togo.

About Scholarship: 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.

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.

There is a theory that the African population will expand to more than three billion by the end of this century. We believe if we can create a bright future for Africa, a continent with so much potential, humanity’s global prospects will be bright as well.

Ashinaga is a Japan-based nonprofit organization, which provides educational and emotional support to orphaned students. The organization has supported over 95,000 orphans in the last 45 years, and many of its graduates are actively contributing to society in a variety of fields across the world.

Offered Since: 2014

Type: undergraduate

Eligibility: The application is open to those who:

1. Have lost their father, mother, or both
2. Have completed their education (primary and secondary) in the last 2 years or who have completed it on August 1, 2017 (professional patents are not accepted)
3. Have citizenship and have finished, or will finish high school in one of the following countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Gabon, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Democratic Republic of Congo , Republic of Congo, Senegal, Togo.
4. Were born after 1 October 1994
5. Do not have the financial capacity to study at university
6. Fluent in French
7. Have a remarkable school career
8. Can participate in the two preparatory programs of Ashinaga, during a whole year, before entering the university
9. Want to return home or in sub-Saharan Africa, in order to actively contribute to African society after graduating from university
10. Do not have a dependent who would interfere with further education
11. Are in good health and able to study abroad

Number of Scholarships: 20

Value of Scholarship: 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.

Duration of Scholarship: for the period of undergraduate studies

How to Apply: 

1. This Application Form
2. A clear identity photo
3. Copies of school reports / transcripts from the 3 years of high school
4. Proof of enrollment or transcripts of higher education, if applicable
5. A copy of the general baccalaureate or other high school qualification, and the transcript of the examination
6. The two editors:
   1. Writing 1: Please describe your childhood and experience the loss of your parent (s). What challenges did you face after this loss and how did you overcome these difficulties? We want you to focus on what you have done to continue your education. (500 words maximum).
   2. Writing 2: Please write a cover letter describing what you want to study at university abroad and why. In addition, please discuss your future plans and how you want to use the knowledge and experience gained from your future studies. (500 words maximum).
7. A copy of the death certificate of the parent (s) or an alternative official document
8. Copy of birth certificate
9. A copy of the national identity card or passport
10. Copies of certificates for prizes or activities, if applicable

Visit Scholarship Webpage for Details

Important Notes:

• The signature of your tutor is required at the end of this document, please ensure that he / she can be present in order to be able to submit your application. All documents must be submitted in English or French. If the documents are not written in either of these languages, the candidate must have them translated by an official body. Use the Western calendar to complete the application.
• You will not be able to register your responses during the online application process, so you must have all the documents and your tutor near you before you apply.

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.

Sponsors: The 100-Year Vision is sponsored and implemented by Ashinaga.