Opening Doors to Impact through Partnerships

he Ashinaga Africa Initiative (AAI) supports young people from sub-Saharan Africa who have lost one or both parents as they pursue undergraduate education and develop as leaders committed to positive change. During their time with AAI, Scholars develop their kokorozashi, a personal vision for how they hope to contribute to the improvement of their countries. For some Graduates, postgraduate study offers an opportunity to build on this foundation and gain further expertise to pursue their vision. Through Ashinaga’s partnership with the University of Sydney (USYD), Australia, select AAI Graduates have been able to take this next step, with support from the Sydney International Equity Scholarship.

Through Ashinaga’s partnership with USYD, this fully University-funded scholarship has so far supported four AAI Graduates: Justina from Nigeria, Betty from Ethiopia, Issa from Mali, and most recently, Mustapha from Sierra Leone. Their studies span sustainability, computer science, and social justice, reflecting different ambitions but a shared interest in applying their education to challenges facing their communities and the African continent.

Justina joined AAI in 2018 and went on to study Social Sciences at Waseda University in Japan, graduating in 2023. During her undergraduate years, she focused on social innovation and developed her kokorozashi: to empower young people in Nigeria through social innovation. She then continued to the University of Sydney, completing a 1.5-year Master of Sustainability in 2026. Her postgraduate studies built on this goal, allowing her to explore how sustainability and entrepreneurship could strengthen her approach to youth empowerment.

In Sydney, Justina actively sought opportunities connected to her kokorozashi. She was selected for the University’s INCUBATE Female Founders pre-accelerator program, where she developed her understanding of entrepreneurship while working on a startup idea. She also expanded her leadership experience after being elected as a General Councillor in the Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association, representing postgraduate students and contributing to decisions affecting the student community. “I’d say I’ve been pushed out of my comfort zone a lot,” Justina said, adding that these experiences helped her understand “the deeper intricacies of leadership.”

For Justina, the value of the partnership lies partly in the opportunities it made accessible. “Going from AAI Scholars and then being a scholar at the University of Sydney under the Sydney International Equity Scholarship opened doors that we wouldn’t have otherwise accessed before,” she reflected.

That opportunity is continuing through current AAI Graduates. Issa is pursuing a Master of Computer Science degree as he works toward his kokorozashi to establish a technology startup incubator in Africa, particularly in Mali. “My studies as part of AAI built a strong foundation in leadership, adaptability, and vision,” Issa explained. “My postgraduate studies at the University of Sydney build directly on that foundation by providing the deep technical expertise and specialized qualification required to execute my vision effectively on the ground.”
He sees the partnership as an extension of what AAI started at the undergraduate level. “This partnership is invaluable,” he said. “I strongly believe it expands AAI’s mission by opening doors to world-class, higher-degree education that equips Scholars with advanced expertise.”

Betty is pursuing a Master of Social Justice in the Human Rights Stream, with a particular interest in human rights, migration, and refugee protection. “Through the Master of Social Justice, I am gaining a deeper understanding of human rights violations, advocacy strategies and social movements, the structural drivers of poverty, and more critically, global and regional migration,” she explained.

An upcoming placement with a refugee support organization will allow Betty to apply this learning in practice. She hopes to draw on the experience in future work with refugee and marginalized communities across Africa, “promoting dignity and justice.” Betty added, “It has allowed me to deepen my expertise and strengthen my knowledge and skills to contribute meaningfully and lead change within my community.”

For Justina, Issa, and Betty, the Sydney International Equity Scholarship has provided a chance to build on their prior education while gaining specialized knowledge and practical experience relevant to the work they want to pursue in Africa. For AAI Graduates, this means their undergraduate education and leadership development can serve as the foundation for more specialized work in fields directly aligned with their longer-term goals.

Having completed the program, Justina sees its impact extending beyond her own degree. “I don’t think I’ll ever be in a position where I’m unempowered again. Because now, I’m working towards being in a solid position where I can better empower others,” she reflected, describing the potential for a “trickle-down effect of development in the long run.” Currently, Justina is preparing for her National Youth Service Corps in Nigeria, where she hopes to draw on the leadership foundation she built through AAI and the knowledge, skills, and practical experiences gained at the University of Sydney as she continues working towards her kokorozashi of empowering young people through social innovation.

As Issa and Betty continue their studies and Mustapha begins his journey in Sydney, they are building on the kokorozashi they developed through AAI with new knowledge and expertise. The aim is for these experiences to strengthen the work they hope to do in their home countries and contribute to positive change across Africa.