Our Mission

Ashinaga USA represents the Ashinaga Africa Initiative (AAI) in the US. We support high-achieving, low-income students from Sub-Saharan Africa who have lost one or both parents.

Our mission focuses on their personal, academic, and professional development:

We strive to instill in our students the values of ethical and innovative leadership.
We aim to equip our students with tools to succeed academically at US universities.
We seek to foster our students’ desires to return to sub-Saharan Africa and to make significant contribution to social
change and development in their communities across the continent.

Our Vision

Converting Africa's demographic potential into leadership capital

We acknowledge Africa’s demographic dividend as the world’s youngest continent as of 2025, with one in four people on Earth being African. Yet Africa loses some of its brightest talent every year to global migration. Many African countries face significant shortages of skilled, ethical, globally connected leaders capable of addressing complex challenges in health, education, governance, climate resilience, entrepreneurship, and economic development.

We aim to reverse “brain drain” and contribute to addressing Africa’s bigger challenges by identifying exceptional young leaders, equipping them with world-class education through full scholarships in top universities in the U.S., and supporting them in bringing their skills, networks, and expertise back to Africa.

We turn talent into transformation. Each returning scholar influences thousands of lives through public service, entrepreneurship, education, healthcare, policy, and community development.

Building Africa’s Leadership Pipeline

Agahozo is studying Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Miami to address the issues of delayed healthcare delivery in Rwanda through biomedicine and entrepreneurship. She is a summer intern at International Organization for Migration (IOM-UN) in Kigali, Rwanda.

Festus studied Economics and African Studies, with a minor in Business, at Northwestern University to harness entrepreneurship to uplift communities in rural Namibia. He now works at Capricorn Asset Management in Windhoek, Namibia.

Godfrella, Botswana

Project Manager, Lady Khama Charitable Trust

“Education was never just a personal milestone for me—it was a tool to effect change in my community. Returning home wasn’t without challenges, but it was never a question. This is where I’m meant to build, grow, and serve.”

Molefi, Botswana

Founder and Motion Designer, BM Motion

“As a digital animator and advocate, I am helping to grow Botswana’s creative industry and support social development. At Voodoo Advertising, I create high-quality 2D and 3D animations for top local brands, improving how they tell their stories and connect with audiences. As the President of the Care Leavers Association, I work to support vulnerable youth by creating systems that help them integrate into society. Through my work in animation and advocacy, I am combining creativity and leadership to make a positive impact in Botswana.”

Development & Communications Manager, Gardens for Health International

Angelique, Rwanda

“I graduated from American University with a B.A, International Studies. I currently work at Gardens for Health International, an organization working to end child malnutrition in Rwanda. I lead the organization’s fundraising efforts and oversee communications. I am glad that I get to contribute to public health outcomes of the Rwandan population.”