Access to Education for Talented African Students

Aisha is an Ashinaga Africa Initiative (AAI) Graduate from Uganda. Growing up, she became aware of the challenges many women and families face due to unequal inheritance rights in Uganda. Witnessing these realities shaped her understanding of social inequality and strengthened her desire to contribute to a more just society. 

This experience became the foundation of her Kokorozashi, a profound personal commitment to social betterment, and of her vision for an Uganda where women have equal rights, financial independence, and the dignity they deserve. “Growing up, I always felt we deserved better. Women and girls deserve equality, especially when it comes to inheritance,” she says.  

That vision led her to the AAI and later to Japan, where she earned an undergraduate degree in International Relations and Peace Studies. There, she studied human rights, politics, development, and peacebuilding, deepening her understanding of the systemic gender inequalities affecting women across Uganda.  

Through AAI, Aisha also learned Japanese, discipline, and a work ethic she still carries today. After graduating, she completed an internship at Kokoro-Juku, an Ashinaga residential facility in Uganda, where she developed leadership skills while supporting AAI candidates with their university applications. She also learned that meaningful change often begins by helping one person at a time.  

Today, Aisha works as an Administration Officer at the JICA Uganda office, providing administrative and operational support for development cooperation initiatives. She sees her role as a bridge between Japan and Uganda, facilitating collaboration between the two countries. For example, she supported the relocation of JICA South Sudan staff to Uganda after the office moved due to the crisis in South Sudan, helping manage visas, work permits, and settlement arrangements so the team could continue their work smoothly. Through this experience, Aisha feels she contributed not only to cooperation between Japan and Uganda but also to supporting South Sudan during a challenging period. “I feel like from here, I can pursue my Kokorozashi while building a meaningful career and achieving financial independence,” she says.  

Aisha’s journey is a testament to what becomes possible when young people are given the opportunity to grow. None of this would have been possible without the generous support of donors who believe in the potential of young leaders. Their support enables scholars like Aisha to access quality education, develop their skills, and return home prepared to create meaningful change in their communities.  

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