AAI Graduating Scholars Share Their Visions for Change

We are happy to share that 14 Ashinaga Africa Initiative (AAI) Scholars, each from a different African country, have graduated from the program. To mark this important milestone, the Scholars came together for a two-day Graduation Event on 25 and 26 August at the National Olympic Center in Tokyo.

On the first day, the Graduating Scholars presented their Ashinaga Proposals to guests. These proposals are an important part of the AAI leadership program, allowing Scholars to draw on what they have learned and experienced to develop plans for realizing their Kokorozashi. This Japanese concept represents a lifelong dream of helping others and creating positive change. Each presentation was followed by a discussion in which guests and fellow Scholars asked questions and offered advice on how to develop the proposals further.

This year, external guests joined the presentations in person for the first time. They included representatives from the Embassies of Tanzania and Senegal; Ms. Wakebe, Founder of Senzo Capital; Ms. Tsuyama, Vice President of the Africa-Japan Forum and an Ashinaga Foundation Board Member; Mr. Fomo, Vice President at Jefferies; and Mr. Nebibanga Evina, Co-Founder, President, and Chairman of the Africa Asia Youth Nest. Their diverse perspectives and expertise brought valuable insights to the discussions.
Alfaxad from Tanzania presented “TechBridge Tanzania: Bridging the Digital Skills Gap,” his proposal to develop an offline AI tutor in Swahili. Through the project, he hopes to make digital learning more accessible and improve employment opportunities in Tanzania. Alfaxad has already begun working toward this goal through his own startup, where he is developing Swahili-language AI technology.

Following his presentation, a representative from the Embassy of Tanzania encouraged him to continue developing the project: “Swahili language originated from Tanzania, and AI training accessible in Swahili would make the technology easy to use for many Tanzanians. The Institute of Science and Technology in Tanzania is trying to encourage young people to start initiatives like yours. We are looking forward to seeing you and your work in Tanzania.”

Khadidiatou presented a project addressing period poverty in Senegal. As part of her research, she organized a reusable pad-making workshop in Senegal and surveyed participants about their experiences. During the discussion, guests offered advice on how she could expand the project and develop a sustainable initiative to continue supporting Senegalese girls.

Jimmy from Uganda presented “Connecting Uganda,” a pilot project aimed at making public transportation more efficient and accessible. His proposal focused on the difficulties people in rural areas face when traveling to Kampala, particularly when they need to reach the country’s main medical centers. One guest advised Jimmy on how to expand his research and highlighted the importance of building a reliable network of partners. His fellow Scholars also shared ideas on how he could approach the project’s budget.

The discussions helped the Scholars strengthen their proposals and consider next steps to put them into action. They also allowed the Scholars to build connections with people who could offer advice and support as their ideas develop.
After the presentations, Mr. Fomo addressed the Scholars: “If you ever need advice on how to move your project forward, we are always here for you, so don’t hesitate to reach out.”

The day concluded with a Graduation Celebration. Speaking on behalf of the Graduating Scholars, Augustine expressed their gratitude to Ashinaga-san and Ashinaga staff for the opportunities and support they had received throughout their journeys. He ended his speech with a promise: “Ashinaga opened the door for us, and we hope to make you proud. We promise that we will do everything possible to do that. We will also make sure to help the young ones who are coming after us.”