The Power of Paying it Forward: 10 Years of the Ashinaga Africa Initiative 

In just a decade, the cumulative efforts of the Ashinaga Africa Initiative (AAI) have transformed the lives of students from across the African continent. What began in 2014 with a modest cohort of 10 students has blossomed into a global program, empowering African youth to pursue higher education and leadership opportunities in universities worldwide. Since the inception of the AAI in 2014, a total of 338 scholars have been accepted into the program from 47 of the 49 Sub-Saharan African countries. Scholars are currently studying in Japan, Malaysia, Brazil, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and other European countries.

One highlight of the many notable successes of the past decade was this year when Ugandan AAI scholar Apollo was named one of the 100 Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) under 40 in the Activism and Humanitarian category. He has continued working diligently to contribute to his community through the activities of the NGO which he founded, Signals from the Grassroots (SftG).  SftG now consists of a network of 5,000 signals (members) from 54 countries across five continents, with other AAI Scholars and graduates being active members leading their social contribution projects. The NGO recently initiated the ‘Keep Her in School’ project, which distributed over 2,000 reusable pads and 2,000 antibacterial soaps to 1,000 schoolgirls in six rural Ugandan schools, allowing them to consistently attend school for over two years without menstrual concerns. AAI Scholars, candidates, and graduates such as Aisha from Uganda actively participated in the initiative by leading awareness sessions tailored for boys and workshops teaching girls about using, maintaining, and storing reusable sanitary pads.

Out of the 147 AAI graduates, approximately 64% are currently employed, 18% are going to graduate school, and the remaining 18% are job hunting or preparing for higher education. Graduates have found employment in organizations, companies, and government ministries; others have pursued their master’s degrees, attending prestigious universities. We have seen graduates’ continued support of the program through cooperation as interviewers for recruitment, lecturing as panelists at seminars, mentoring current Scholars through peer mentorship, and providing internship opportunities at companies where they work.

One of the AAI program’s fundamental tenets is cultivating the next generation of leaders to contribute to the long-term development of sub-Saharan Africa. To facilitate the eventual return of Scholars to Africa, Ashinaga has initiated the establishment of support systems such as assistance for enrolling in graduate programs in Africa and support for entrepreneurial endeavors that will, in turn, create business and employment opportunities throughout the continent. One example of such entrepreneurship is Alfredo, an AAI graduate from Angola; he co-founded a company focused on supporting local businesses through financial consulting and educating entrepreneurs about effective business management.

The AAI program has been a labor of love taking shape over the past ten years, and its many successes would not have been possible without the contributions of countless supporters, donors, staff, Scholars, and members of the Kenjin Tatsujin Councill. The knowledge gained from the past decade has consolidated the program, creating a firm foundation that will sustain the initiative for many years. Ashinaga staff have increased emphasis on the impact made in Africa by facilitating more coaching, training, and networking opportunities for scholars and graduates. We are incredibly proud of the accomplishments and impact that have been made up to this point and look forward to continuing to fulfill the mission of nurturing the future leaders of the African continent.