Graduation Day: Celebrating the Ashinaga UK Scholars of 2026

“Every empowered youth becomes a multiplier of hope. Let us leave here not just as Graduates, but as builders of a new Africa. The future is not waiting, we are the future.”

Over the summer, friends, partners, and colleagues gathered at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP in London to celebrate the graduation of another cohort of Ashinaga UK scholars. The day beautifully showcased and celebrated the scholars' diverse dreams and aspirations as they presented their Ashinaga Proposals; a written project in which they define their personal mission (Kokorozashi) and lay out how they intend to use their education to create impact in their home countries. Among the many incredible voices of the scholars, one story in particular captured the spirit of the day: that of Mohamed Munth Kamara, who shared his journey.

Mohamed's Story, in His Own Words

"My name is Mohamed Munth Kamara. I am an Ashinaga Africa Initiative Scholar and a BSc graduate in Economics and Finance from the University of York. Standing here today feels like standing at the intersection of where my journey began and where my mission is heading.

I grew up in Sierra Leone, a place full of young people with vibrant and brilliant potential, but held back by energy poverty, a deep digital divide, and limited access to opportunities. Imagine waking up every day knowing that your dreams depend on a lightbulb you cannot switch on. For thousands of young people in Sierra Leone, this is not imagination - it is daily life.

I personally lived this reality. When I won the AAI Scholarship, I was overjoyed, but I quickly realised that opportunity means little without access. The leadership program was online, yet I had no electricity at home. Every day, I walked nearly two miles to find power, often arriving late because cafés opened at unpredictable times or ran out of fuel. My lack of digital skills made it even harder, and I received three penalties from AAI for attending classes late due to power outages. Sometimes I would return home only to miss assignment deadlines because my battery died. And yet, AAI stood by me - covering my travel, internet, electricity, and cafe fees so I could keep going.

Through those struggles, one thought stayed with me: if this is my reality, what about the millions of young people who never get the chance I had? So I decided to act. I founded a non-profit, Eeager Salone. Today, through our solar-power charging centre, children can study at night, young people can learn digital skills, and communities that lived in darkness now have light and hope.

Ashinaga didn't just fund my education - they helped me shape my Kokorozashi, my life purpose: to build systems that empower young people through entrepreneurship, clean energy, and digital innovation. Through Eeager Salone, we are now building a Digital Innovation Institute and, soon, an Entrepreneurship Training Centre that will equip more than 25,000 young people by 2030 to become job creators rather than job seekers. Today, my organisation supports over sixty children and seven young adults in vocational training.

My next steps are bold: I want to pursue an MSc in Artificial Intelligence, Ethics and Societies, to broaden my understanding of how societies can ethically use AI to stimulate economic growth - and to scale Eeager Salone into a national pipeline of young entrepreneurs who will transform Sierra Leone's economy.

To Ashinaga and to our donors: your investment is not just changing lives, it is shaping nations. And to every young person listening- your background is not your boundary. Where you are born does not determine how far you will go.

My fellow Ashinaga scholars, remember this: Africa's greatest resources are not diamonds, oil, or gold. They are us - the young generation. We are the minds that will design new systems, build new industries, and rewrite the story of our continent. Every empowered youth becomes a multiplier of hope. Let us leave here not just as graduates, but as builders of a new Africa. The future is not waiting - we are the future."

Ashinaga UK Graduates of 2026

Every Ashinaga UK scholarship has been made possible by the generosity of many supporters. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps us empower bereaved youth to grow into the next generation of African leaders. Join us in supporting these young changemakers by donating here, or get in touch with us by emailing partnerships.uk@ashinaga.org.