{"id":14796,"date":"2024-01-13T06:58:21","date_gmt":"2024-01-13T06:58:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/collegeguide.co.za\/?p=14796"},"modified":"2024-01-13T06:58:21","modified_gmt":"2024-01-13T06:58:21","slug":"ashinaga-africa-initiative-leadership-programme-2024-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/ashinaga-africa-initiative-leadership-programme-2024-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Ashinaga Africa Initiative Leadership Programme 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"advads-atf\" style=\"margin-top: 15px;margin-bottom: 20px;\" id=\"advads-3970867975\"><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-9198760278752355\"\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\n<!-- Responsive ads atf -->\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\n     style=\"display:block\"\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9198760278752355\"\n     data-ad-slot=\"8381596201\"\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/div><p>Ashinaga formed by Yoshiomi Tamai has opened its 2026 Africa Initiative Leadership Programme and is inviting all interested applicants to Apply. Below are the requirements and procedures to apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Closing Date:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bursary Requirements:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>You must a citizen of any of these African countries: Angola,\u202fBenin,\u202fBotswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi,\u202fCabo Verde,\u202fCAR, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire, Djibouti, DRC,\u202fEthiopia,\u202fEquatorial Guinea,\u202fEritrea, Gabon,\u202fGhana,\u202fGuinea Bissau,\u202fGuinea Conakry,\u202fKenya, Kingdom of eSwatini, Lesotho, Liberia,\u202fMadagascar,\u202fMalawi,\u202fMali, Mauritania,\u202fMauritius,\u202fMozambique,\u202fNamibia, Niger,\u202fNigeria,\u202fRepublic of Congo,\u202fRwanda,\u202fS\u00e3o Tom\u00e9 and Pr\u00edncipe,\u202fSenegal,\u202fSierra Leone, Somalia,&nbsp;<strong>South Africa<\/strong>, South Sudan, Seychelles, Sudan, Tanzania, The Gambia,\u202fTogo, Uganda,\u202fZambia\u202fand Zimbabwe<\/li><li>You must have been born any time after 1 September 1999<\/li><li>You must have lost 1 or both of your parents<\/li><li>You must have no dependents who may interfere with your studies<\/li><li>You must be in good health (to be able to study abroad)<\/li><li>You must have completed\u202fsecondary school OR you must be currently in secondary school<\/li><li>You must have received your\u202fnational\u202fsecondary\u202fschool exam results within the last 2 years OR you must receive your final exam results\u202fby 28 February 2026 (NOT technical and vocational degrees)<\/li><li>You must wish to study abroad, towards an undergraduate university qualification<\/li><li>You must lack the financial means to attend university\u202fabroad\u202fwithout external funding<\/li><li>You must be fluent in English,\u202fFrench\u202for Portuguese<\/li><li>You must be in the top 10% of your class (during the last 2 to 3 years of secondary school)<\/li><li>You must be willing and able to partake in 2 Ashinaga\u202fpreparatory programs, before attending university (programs will take place in 1 years)<\/li><li>You must intend to return to your home country (or to Sub-Saharan Africa) within 4 years after graduation, where you will contribute to society in Sub-Saharan Africa<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Please note: students will NOT be selected based on race, ethnic background, culture, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability or any other factors not mentioned above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bursary Coverage:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The programme will provide cover for the following expenses: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>tuition, <\/li><li>accommodation, <\/li><li>travel expenses and <\/li><li>other necessary expenses.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Method of Application:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Ashinaga Africa Initiative (AAI) Leadership Programme has 2 steps to apply:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>STEP 1:<\/strong>&nbsp;Applicants must first apply online at&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ashinaga.smapply.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AAI Leadership Application 2026<\/a><\/strong><br>To get started, first&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ashinaga.smapply.net\/acc\/r\/?g=80409\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Register an account<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Students from Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique and S\u00e3o Tom\u00e9 and Pr\u00edncipe (Portuguese-speaking), must apply here:&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/form.jotform.com\/AshinagaAAI\/lusophonia2026\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AAI Leadership Application 2026 for Portuguese students<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>STEP 2:<\/strong>&nbsp;Students who are deemed eligible by Ashinaga will receive an email with the application form. Students will receive the application email within 1 month after registering \u2013 if you do not receive the email, then you have not been invited to apply (be sure to check your spam or junk box in your email account).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NB: students must download and read the&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ashinaga.smapply.net\/protected\/resource\/eyJoZnJlIjogMTE2NDk0MDc0LCAidnEiOiAxNzE2Nzd9\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AAI Applicant Guidebook<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;as it contain a lot of essential information<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Supporting Documents:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are invited to apply, you will be required to submit clear copies of the following supporting documentation along with your completed application form, so ensure you have them ready (the submission of these documents is compulsory \u2013 if any items are missing, your application may be disqualified):<\/p><div class=\"advads-content\" id=\"advads-801681648\"><div style=\"width: 300px; padding: 20px; margin: 0 auto; border: 1px solid #ddd; border-radius: 8px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: center; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">\r\n    <p style=\"font-size: 16px; margin: 0 0 10px;\">Need Information or Confused about Something ? <\/p>\r\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/onlineapplications.co.za\/ask\/\" style=\"display: inline-block; padding: 10px 20px; background-color: #007BFF; color: #fff; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 4px; transition: background-color 0.3s;\">Ask a Question<\/a>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div><div class=\"advads-btf\" style=\"margin-top: 15px;margin-bottom: 20px;\" id=\"advads-4261969868\"><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-9198760278752355\"\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\n<!-- Responsive ads btf -->\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\n     style=\"display:block\"\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9198760278752355\"\n     data-ad-slot=\"5513273173\"\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>ID document, Passport or Birth certificate (copy only)<\/li><li>Photograph (passport style)<\/li><li>All term reports or secondary school transcripts from the past 2 years<\/li><li>Final secondary school certificate (with results for each subject)<\/li><li>Recommendation letter from a school teacher or principal indicating your performance and character at secondary school (including their contact number, email address and must be stamped or signed)<\/li><li>Academic transcripts or official university\u202fresults (if applicable)<\/li><li>Certificates of extracurricular activities, training courses,\u202fjobs\u202for other commitments (if applicable)<\/li><li>Death certificate of deceased parent\/ parents or another official documentation proving parents death or orphan status<\/li><\/ul>\n<div class=\"advads-cpc\" id=\"advads-2074348872\"><p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Sponsored Guide<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Complete Guide to NSFAS Online Loan Application for South African Students (2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you are a South African student looking to pursue higher education but are facing financial difficulties, the <strong>National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)<\/strong> is one of the most accessible funding options available. NSFAS provides financial aid in the form of <strong>bursaries and loans<\/strong> to qualifying students at public universities and TVET colleges in South Africa.<\/p>\n<p>This guide will walk you through <strong>everything you need to know about the NSFAS loan application process<\/strong>, from eligibility requirements to application steps and frequently asked questions.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udccc What is NSFAS?<\/h2>\n<p>The <strong>National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)<\/strong> is a government-funded financial aid scheme aimed at helping students from low- and middle-income households to access tertiary education without the burden of upfront fees.<\/p>\n<p>NSFAS <strong>offers both bursaries and income-contingent loans<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Bursaries<\/strong>: For eligible students who meet academic and household income criteria (especially for TVET and university students).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Loans<\/strong>: For students who do not meet all bursary criteria or who are pursuing postgraduate qualifications not funded under bursary schemes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\u2705 Who Qualifies for an NSFAS Loan?<\/h2>\n<p>To qualify for an NSFAS loan (especially for postgraduate students or programs not funded under the bursary system), you must:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Be a <strong>South African citizen<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Be <strong>financially needy<\/strong>, with a household income of <strong>less than R350,000 per year<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Have a <strong>valid South African ID<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Be <strong>enrolled or accepted<\/strong> to study at a <strong>public university or TVET college<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Not be funded through another bursary program that covers all expenses.<\/li>\n<li>Maintain satisfactory <strong>academic progress<\/strong> (returning students).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udcda Courses Funded by NSFAS<\/h2>\n<p>NSFAS primarily funds <strong>undergraduate qualifications<\/strong>, but certain <strong>postgraduate programs (e.g., PGCE, postgraduate diplomas in education, and professional courses like LLB)<\/strong> may be considered under the <strong>NSFAS loan scheme<\/strong>, not bursaries.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re studying:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Undergraduate degree or diploma<\/strong>: You are likely eligible for a full NSFAS bursary.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Postgraduate study<\/strong>: You may qualify for a loan, depending on the course and funding availability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udcc4 Required Documents for NSFAS Application<\/h2>\n<p>When applying, make sure you have the following documents scanned and ready:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Certified copy of your South African ID or Smart Card<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Parent(s) or guardian(s) ID documents<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Proof of income<\/strong> (latest payslips, UIF, or affidavit if unemployed).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Consent Form<\/strong> signed by your parent(s)\/guardian(s) to allow NSFAS to verify income.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Proof of registration or acceptance at a public institution<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Academic transcripts<\/strong> (for continuing or postgraduate students).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udda5\ufe0f How to Apply for an NSFAS Loan Online<\/h2>\n<h3>Step-by-Step NSFAS Online Application Process (2025)<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Visit the NSFAS Website<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Go to: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nsfas.org.za\/\">https:\/\/www.nsfas.org.za<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Create an Account<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Click on <strong>\u201cMyNSFAS\u201d<\/strong> and register your profile.<\/li>\n<li>You\u2019ll need a <strong>valid email address<\/strong> and <strong>South African cellphone number<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Choose a strong password and verify your account via email or SMS.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Login and Start the Application<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>After registration, log in to your <strong>MyNSFAS<\/strong> account.<\/li>\n<li>Click on <strong>\u201cApply\u201d<\/strong> to begin a new application.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Fill in Your Personal Details<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Input your <strong>ID number<\/strong>, name, surname, and other details exactly as they appear on your ID.<\/li>\n<li>Provide <strong>household income information<\/strong> and living arrangements.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Upload Required Documents<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Upload all supporting documents in <strong>PDF or JPEG format<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Each document must be clear and under the size limit specified.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Submit Your Application<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Review your application for accuracy.<\/li>\n<li>Click <strong>\u201cSubmit\u201d<\/strong> and wait for a confirmation message.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Track Your Application<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Log in regularly to check your application status.<\/li>\n<li>You will be notified via SMS and email at each stage of the process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f Important NSFAS Dates (2025)<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Application Opening Date<\/strong>: September 1, 2025<\/li>\n<li><strong>Application Deadline<\/strong>: January 31, 2026<\/li>\n<li><strong>Appeals Period<\/strong>: February 2026 (if rejected)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Disbursement<\/strong>: After registration and approval<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Note: Dates are subject to change; always confirm on the official NSFAS website.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udcb8 What Does the NSFAS Loan Cover?<\/h2>\n<p>NSFAS funding typically includes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Tuition fees<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Registration fees<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Accommodation (if living away from home)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Meals and transport<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Learning materials (e.g., textbooks)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For <strong>loans<\/strong>, repayment is only required <strong>once you start working and earn above a threshold<\/strong> (around R30,000 annually, but subject to change).<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udd04 NSFAS Loan Repayment<\/h2>\n<p>Repayments are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Income-contingent<\/strong> \u2013 you only repay when you can afford to.<\/li>\n<li>Administered by <strong>DHET (Department of Higher Education and Training)<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Interest-bearing<\/strong>, but interest rates are low and favorable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You can also apply for a <strong>partial loan conversion to a bursary<\/strong> if you perform well academically.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udd01 How to Appeal a Rejected NSFAS Application<\/h2>\n<p>If your application is rejected, you may submit an appeal via your MyNSFAS portal:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Log into your MyNSFAS account.<\/li>\n<li>Click on <strong>\u201cTrack Funding Progress\u201d<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>If rejected, click on <strong>\u201cSubmit Appeal\u201d<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Upload any missing or corrected documents.<\/li>\n<li>Provide a clear explanation or motivation.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udcf1 NSFAS Contact Information<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Website<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nsfas.org.za\/\">https:\/\/www.nsfas.org.za<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Email<\/strong>: <a href=\"mailto:info@nsfas.org.za\">info@nsfas.org.za<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Toll-Free Number<\/strong>: 08000 67327 (Monday\u2013Friday, 8 AM\u20135 PM)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Twitter<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/myNSFAS\">@myNSFAS<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Facebook<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/myNSFAS\">NSFAS<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udcdd Final Tips Before Applying<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Apply <strong>early<\/strong> to avoid system overload near the deadline.<\/li>\n<li>Use <strong>your own email and cellphone number<\/strong> (do not use someone else\u2019s).<\/li>\n<li>Double-check that all your documents are <strong>certified and legible<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Keep a <strong>copy of your submission confirmation<\/strong> for reference.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p>By following this guide, you can confidently apply for NSFAS funding and move one step closer to achieving your academic and career dreams\u2014without the burden of immediate financial pressure.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ashinaga formed by Yoshiomi Tamai has opened its 2026 Africa Initiative Leadership Programme and is inviting all interested applicants to Apply. Below are the requirements and procedures to apply. Closing Date: Bursary Requirements: You must a citizen of any of these African countries: Angola,\u202fBenin,\u202fBotswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi,\u202fCabo Verde,\u202fCAR, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire, Djibouti, DRC,\u202fEthiopia,\u202fEquatorial\u2026 <span class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/ashinaga-africa-initiative-leadership-programme-2024-2024\/\">Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14796","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14796","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14796"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14796\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14796"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14796"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14796"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}