The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) in the UK is pleased to announce the opening of applications for the 2024/25 Commonwealth Master’s and PhD Scholarships. With a legacy of supporting over 30,000 individuals since 1960, the CSC remains a cornerstone in global development, using education as a tool for transformation. The HALI Access Network is proud to partner with the CSC, sharing a commitment to empowering the generations in African through higher education.

As the excitement of a new academic year fills the air, over 100 students from different HALI member organizations are getting ready to start a new journey – joining University abroad. To support them with the transition, HALI Access Network recently hosted a virtual pre-departure session to equip the students with the tools and knowledge they need to thrive on campus.

Tujenge Alumni from Cohorts 3, 4, 5, and 6 cofounded and collaborated in the administration of an NGO, Space-Ed Africa, which launched its first initiative, the EmpowerHER Summit, in December 2023. The EmpowerHER Summit aims to empower women to pursue careers in business or the nonprofit sector. A pilot of the Summit was held in Bujumbura in December 2023, with several students from Tujenge Cohort 7, the current cohort, in attendance.

May is Mental Health Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness and promoting understanding about mental health issues. Last month, students at UWC East Africa, a member organization of the HALI network, shared insights to create awareness, and break the stigma around mental health.

Haile-Manas Academy in Ethiopia hosted representatives from Abaarso School in Somaliland, creating meaningful connection within the HALI Access Network. Leaders from both schools exchanged insights on college counseling and university admissions. This collaboration promises ongoing resource sharing and joint projects to enhance opportunities for high-achieving, low-income students.

The gap year internship was a transformational experience for the three young girls, with many lessons they will carry forward.

When the Jacaranda flowers are in full bloom, filling the air with a mild yet sweet scent, and they start to fall, creating a purple carpet on the Zimbabwe landscape, then teachers and students know it’s time for the O-level and A-level exams to begin. While most people are filled with the hope and sense of newness that this ‘Jacaranda season’ brings, many young people around the country approach their O-Level exams with little to no hope for their future.

Recently, a group of Friends of HALI collaborated to engage with HALI (high-achieving, low-income) students and access organizations in Kenya. This initiative was part of a broader outreach program organized by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa, which hosted three partner universities: the University of Pretoria, the University of Rwanda, and Ashesi University.

Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) is a grassroots movement that catalyzes the large-scale transformation of urban slums by providing critical services for all, community advocacy platforms, and education & leadership development for women and girls.