The Yale Young African Scholars program in partnership with Higherlife Foundation Rwanda and Ghana episodes recently took place in Kigali and Accra respectively. These two session were a resounding success as a total of 200 students were trained and an
average of 17 countries were represented in each session. The Yale Young African Scholars Program (YYAS) is a high-intensity academic and leadership program designed for African secondary school students who have the talent, drive, energy, and ideas to make meaningful impact as young leaders, even before they begin their university studies.
YYAS brings together students from across Africa in this seven-day, residential program and helps prepare them for the demanding application process of attending university in the United States. YYAS is an official program of Yale University and its partnership with Higherlife Foundation will take 900 African students to USA universities over a 3-year period. University preparation is one area under Higherlife Foundations Access to Education pillar that provides a platform for African students to gain access to the various opportunities available for them in the US and the rest of the world.
The first 100 of the 300 students to go through the program in 2016 gathered in Rwanda from the 29th of July to the 4th of August 2016 at Greenhill’s School in Kigali with 16 countries represented and in Ghana from the 9th of August 2016 to the 15th of August 2016. The event also saw 20 educators getting knowledge on application the USA university application process and their role beyond the writing of meaningful recommendation letters.
The YYAS 2016 Zimbabwe episode will take place in Harare at Arundel School from 20-26 August 2016 and 18 countries will be represented in this cohort. The main take away noted by Higherlife Foundation representatives is that the American education system is based on SYSTEMS not relationships, and it is imperative that applicants understand this system and be able to satisfy all its requirements.
It is important to involve the educators and the parents/guardians in such concise programs that are pregnant with information. This is a very relevant and important program that is taking Africa to the very next level in providing access to the best education in the world.
