Leila Ali from Kenya has a degree in Microbiology and Zoology from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. She is a graduate of Daraja Academy, a free secondary boarding school for Kenyan girls who demonstrates leadership qualities from an early age. She was also a young leader at ALX, a 6-month leadership program with a vision to change Africa for the greater good.
Today she is the founder of Sawa Project, an initiative that supports mental health and education access among youth. Leila is also passionate about healthcare, technology, and global education access. She has many years of volunteer experience in non-governmental organisations and community-based organisations. She recently attended the Tadamon Crowdfunding Academy where she received Crowdfunding Training.
Leila decided to join the Africademics Scholarship Ambassador Programme because of her first-hand experience with the consequences that come with a lack of education opportunities. She would like to support girls in finding their way to getting a proper education as she herself was saved, by the opportunity to attend Daraja Academy, from getting married at the age of 13 because her parents could not afford to take her to school any other way.
She comes from a nomadic community, Isiolo, where she has met many people who are fighting to keep hope and opportunity alive. Speaking with parents and children about their challenges and their future, she realises that she could be talking to someone with the moral courage of Nelson Mandela, or the craftsmanship of Chinua Achebe. If only they had the chance. She understands that the problem is that millions of children do not have an opportunity to learn, let alone meet their full potential. Her hunger for effective solutions and policies to combat this and ensure every girl gets educated has motivated her to become an Africademics Scholarship Ambassador.
Another interesting fact about Leila is that – when she is not busy volunteering and empowering her peers and community – she enjoys cooking.
Welcome to the Africademics Scholarship Ambassador Programme, Leila!
The Scholarship Ambassador Programme
Through the Scholarship Ambassador Programme Africademics trains volunteers from across Africa to become scholarship advisors and mentors. Ambassadors complete a 4-month online course with virtual lectures, case studies and additional activities. Once they have successfully graduated, our Scholarship Ambassadors offer personal support, advice and mentorship for scholarship seekers and applicants in and from Africa.
Our 2022 Ambassador cohort started their training in April 2022 and we are thrilled to have over 90 students and scholars from across the African continent on board this year. In 2021, we welcomed our first cohort of 30 Scholarship Ambassadors who completed their training in November 2021. They now offer free scholarship consultations, mentorship and application assistance for scholarship seekers in and from Africa on a regular basis.
Meet our team of Scholarship Ambassadors here and let us know via our contact form if you would like to book a personal consultation with one of them!
