AshinagaAfricaInitiative

INTRODUCTION TO

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About Us

We are an international non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in Japan. We provide financial aid and psychological support to young people around the world who have lost one or both parents. With a history spanning more than 50 years, our support has enabled more than 100,000 Japanese orphaned students to finish their higher education.

In 2001, building on our success in Japan, we expanded our activities internationally with the establishment of a new office in Uganda. This focused primarily on the support of HIV/AIDS orphans. Since then, we have opened new offices in Senegal, the USA, the UK, and France to support the Ashinaga Africa Initiative.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

Donations from the public enable us to provide educational support and emotional care to orphaned students*. We strive to spread this compassionate work all around the globe, and to create a world free from threats to human dignity.

*Defined by Ashinaga as students who have lost one or both parents, or who have at least one parent with a severe disability.

OUR MISSION

Ashinaga provides educational and emotional support for orphaned students worldwide. This enables them to overcome emotional trauma, to advance in their education, and to become agents of social change.

OUR VISION

The eradication of poverty through equitable education and comprehensive psychosocial support for all young people who have lost parents.

OUR ETHOS

A warm heart, an open mind, a proactive attitude, and an international outlook.

Ashinaga Africa InitiativeThe Ashinaga Africa Initiative (AAI) is an academic leadership programme launched in 2014. It aims to contribute to Sub-Saharan Africa’s expanding role in global development through increasing access to international higher education. AAI Scholars are orphaned students who are committed to returning home, or to the region of Sub-Saharan Africa, to initiate change, innovation, and development.

We provide each selected AAI Scholar with the academic and financial support to study abroad, as well as access to mentoring and career guidance. After graduation, scholars return home, empowered to turn their vision into reality. Each year, we aim to select one Ashinaga Africa Initiative Scholar from each country in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Key Elements of the Ashinaga Africa Initiative

Beyond simply providing financial aid, our program has five key elements to ensure that scholars receive the education, training, professional networks, and opportunities to realize their vision for Sub-Saharan Africa.

1. THE SELECTION

Selecting talented students is key to the effectiveness of the Ashinaga Africa Initiative. For this reason we have developed a rigorous selection process in cooperation with embassies, partner NGOs, and local education experts from each country.

2. THE SUPPORT

We are with our students every step of the way, with full-time staff available to provide guidance whenever necessary.

3. THE NETWORK

AAI Students are connected to a global network of volunteer mentors, Ashinaga alumni, partner organizations, our Kenjin-Tatsujin International Advisory Council, and fellow students.

4. THE PROPOSAL

During their studies, AAI Students spend four years developing a thoroughly-researched proposal addressing an issue faced by their local community.

5. THE PROMISE

Most importantly, all AAI Students promise to pass on the benefits of their education. They do this by returning and contributing to Sub-Saharan Africa’s development.

Academic Development

STUDY CAMPS

Before applying for university, selected students attend a 6-month Study Camp either in Uganda or Senegal. Here, interns and volunteers from around the world provide students with rigorous academic teaching, experience-based leadership training, and tailored university guidance.

ASHINAGA PROPOSAL

Scholars apply the knowledge and skills acquired at university, towards an achievable proposal that addresses a particular social issue in their area related to their major. They are encouraged to utilize the network around them to produce an idea that is thoroughly-researched, innovative, and practical.

Professional Development

STUDENT SUPPORT

Before, during, and after university, AAI Students receive support and guidance from our regional offices, as well as our global network. NETWORKS

We do our utmost to connect AAI Scholars to influential individuals, collaborators, and experts who can connect them to relevant career opportunities.

INTERNSHIPS

Ashinaga requires scholars to complete a minimum 8-week internship in Sub-Saharan Africa so that students maintain a link to their home continent, gain professional experience, and work to develop a network for their future.

Socio-emotional Development

TSUDOI

Every summer and winter, Ashinaga regional offices organize reunions, called tsudoi. During the tsudoi, students take a moment to reflect on campus life, to share their experiences, and to glean advice from fellow Ashinaga scholars. Students also have opportunities to meet with our Kenjin-Tatsujin International Advisory Council members, attend lectures, and engage in public volunteering services.

BIG SIB PROGRAM

We value peer-to-peer support. During their college years, older students mentor younger students; students are put in charge of planning and organizing various activities.

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Leadership Program

We provide various programs to create leaders who can

effect sustained development in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Successful applicants are invited to Study Camp

Students go back home

Students return home before

university

Preparation Camp

Journey of an Ashinaga Scholar

Recruitment & selection of students

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Each year, we launch an extensive effort in collaboration with local organisations, ministries, and embassies in order to

find academically-excellent, economically-disadvantaged orphaned students from each accessible country in Sub-Saharan Africa. A student’s vision to help their home country and their leadership potential are key criteria for selection. With an admission rate of 5%, all the selected applicants are among the most talented students in their country.

After being selected, students complete a one-year preparatory program before beginning their university studies. This program is built around two camps organized by Ashinaga in

Senegal and Uganda. The first is a Study Camp that offers academic support in addition to guidance regarding university applications,

career planning and leadership development.

After the Study Camps, AAI Students return to their home country to prepare the necessary official documents, submit applications, and apply for visas. Students are also assigned work by Ashinaga during this period so that they can continue their personal, academic and professional development.

The Preparation Camp held in Uganda provides students with preparation for the

social, cultural and academic differences they will encounter during their studies abroad.

English/ Portuguese

Uganda Senegal

French 4

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7 Graduate & gainemployment

Return to Sub-Saharan Africa

Go to university

We guarantee to financially support scholars through university. We provide for tuition, accommodation, and food through a scholarship, while monthly stipends, transportation and additional funding for internships are provided as forgivable loans. Loans will be forgiven if students return and contribute to the development of their home countries within five years of graduating. This return policy aims to combat brain-drain from the African continent. Those scholars who decide not to return must repay the forgivable loan, this will then be paid forward to other Sub-Saharan African students.

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Student Support Program Student Relations & Career Development

University Relations

Regional offices work together with universities to provide AAI Scholars with academic and financial support.

Regional OfficesOur regional offices are

situated in Japan (Tokyo and Kobe), the USA (Washington DC), the UK (London), and France (Paris) to support the scholars studying in each region.

The impact9

Each regional office provides a holistic Student Support Program consisting of Student Relations and Career Development. Student Relations provide day-to-day communication with scholars to give advice regarding daily issues, social and cultural adjustment, and their studies. Career Development provides support and guidance on scholars’ professional paths. This ranges from acquiring internships, to gaining professional experience, in order to build their careers in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Student Support Program ensures scholars are successful not only during their academic life but also after graduation.

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Fundraising

Bokin, or Japanese-style street fundraising, has been a core component of Ashinaga since its inception. Every fall and summer over a period of 4 weekends, more than 10,000 Ashinaga students and volunteers congregate at 200 central points across Japan. The students raise awareness and funds through sharing their personal histories with passers-by. People then graciously place any amount of money—be it 10 yen, 10 dollars, or more—in the boxes that students are holding. Since 2016, the students have made the monumental commitment to donate half of all funds raised to help support the education of orphaned students across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Kenjin-Tatsujin

The Kenjin-Tatsujin International Advisory Council is a body of change makers who are dedicated to supporting Ashinaga’s vision. There are currently 86 members from 34 countries.

Kenjin are intellectuals and business leaders held in high public regard who are knowledgeable about international development.

Tatsujin are acclaimed artists, performers, and athletes who are socially active and globally conscious. The Kenjin Tatsujin are central to developing the strategy and mission of the Ashinaga African Initiative.

The Ashinaga Internship

This internship began in 2013 as an English-teaching program for students in Japan and Uganda. It enables interns to develop the problem-solving skills and adaptability needed to succeed in multicultural environments. Since then, our program has grown to encompass a variety of departments and functions, including student support, translation, fundraising, and marketing.

We hope that by unlocking the potential of bright minds from across the world, we will support Ashinaga into becoming a truly inclusive and international organization. To date we have had interns from more than 50 universities worldwide.

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Why has Ashinaga begun supporting orphaned students outside of Japan?

Following the 1995 Kobe Earthquake and the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, Ashinaga and its students received a substantial number of donations from abroad. In an effort to pay forward the kindness we received, we began raising funds to support orphaned students outside of Japan.

Why does the Ashinaga Africa Initiative focus only on Sub-Saharan Africa?

When compared with much of the world, Sub-Saharan Africa has an extremely high number of orphaned students, along with a much lower rate of access to higher education. This is why we decided to concentrate our efforts within this area first.

Why is it necessary for scholars on the program to study outside of their home country?

We believe that the experience of being exposed to fellow students and teachers from different backgrounds is key to fostering open-minded leaders prepared for a globalized world.

Why is there only one scholar per country recruited each year?

This is to ensure an equal distribution across Sub-Saharan Africa, creating a highly diverse student body who can all learn from each other. We hope to increase the number of scholars per country in the future as resources become available.

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STUDENT TESTIMONIALS

Angelique (Rwanda)American University, USA

‘Freedom is the power to act selflessly and help others. Freedom is the peace I can find within myself and around my neighbours.

Freedom is finding value in our homelands and as citizens of the world. By revealing my dreams to me and helping them to come true, taking me from Rwanda to the walls of the American University in Washington, D.C., Ashinaga has aided me in my quest to gain that freedom.’

Hillary (Kenya)Doshisha University, Japan

‘I study Japanese culture and international relations at Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan. I chose this course because it provides

me with a large range of perspectives through which to view the world. I am interested in global systems, and this course allows me to realize my dreams. I find my classes, my classmates, and my professors very interesting. In the end, I hope to be able to help the world in which I live.’

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2017*

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PROGRESS OF THE ASHINAGA AFRICA INITIATIVE

JAPAN

Kaizaka Bldg., 1-6-8 Hirakawacho,Chiyoda-ku,

Tokyo 102-8639+81 3 3221 0814

info@ashinaga.org

UGANDA

Yesu Amala, Nansana, Wakiso District,

PO Box 16864, Kampala+256 756 970 148

info@ashinaga-uganda.org

FRANCE

Campus France,28 Rue de la Grange aux Belles,

75010 Paris+33 1 40 40 59 92

admin.fr@ashinaga.org

USA

1725 I Street NW, Suite 300,

Washington DC 20006+1 202 349 3779

info@ashinaga-usa.org

SENEGAL

Fann Residence, FN 11XFN08, TF 18/09/DG Lot A

B.P 5081, FANN-DAKAR, Dakar+221 33 864 66 62

senegaloffice@ashinaga.org

UK

c/o Daiwa Foundation Japan House13/14 Cornwall Terrace

London NW1 4QP+44 203 075 1991

admin.uk@ashinaga.org

If you would like to make a donation to Ashinaga, please visit:

www.ashinaga.org/en

For more information on the Ashinaga Africa Initiative, please visit:

http://ashinaga100-yearvision.org/en/

Contact

ASHINAGAofficial @AshinagaGlobal www.ashinaga.org/en@ashinagaglobal