Access to Education for Talented African Students

Angelique, a graduate of the first Ashinaga Africa Initiative (AAI) cohort from Rwanda, embodies the transformative power of education. Despite the challenges of post-war Rwanda, generous donations supported her through her AAI journey, enabling her to attend preparation camps in Uganda, complete an internship, and earn a degree in the United States—equipping her with the skills to become an agent of positive change in her community.

As a high school graduate, Angelique came across the Ashinaga Africa Initiative (AAI) scholarship by chance. “I’d gone to the Rwanda Education Board to apply for something else entirely, and there was an announcement for the Ashinaga scholarship. I thought, ‘Why not apply? I’m already here,’” she recalls. That decision launched her on a path that would transform her life and community.

Angelique accessed world-class education through AAI and an invaluable network of mentors and peers. While completing her undergraduate degree in international relations in the United States, she discovered her passion for public health. Her studies and reflections on the intersection of poverty, health, and education in her community motivated her to pursue holistic solutions to these challenges.

During an internship with Partners in Health in Rwanda, Angelique found her passion for public health and resource mobilization. “Clinical interventions are not enough. People need water, housing, and necessities to lead healthy lives,” she explains. Today, she works as the Development and Communications Manager at Gardens for Health International, where she leads efforts in grant writing and resource mobilization to combat child malnutrition in Rwanda.

Links:

• About Us
• Read more our scholars' stories