About ASEF
African Students’ Education Fund (ASEF ) is a non-profit organization based in the United States of America that has been providing scholarships to secondary school students in Rwanda since 2007. These students have the promising intellectual capacity, yet are in great financial need. Testimonial of our Student Penina Muhabwanimana Current senior at the University of… Continue reading About ASEF
Mission
Our mission is to make a better life possible through education for Rwandan children who do not have the financial means.
Patience Irakoze
- Current sophomore at the United Arab Emirates University – Abu Dhabi studying Architectural Engineering
- ASEF student 2016 – 2017, Petit Séminaire Virgo Fidelis de Butare
In the national examinations, I had the best score in my District, and I was assigned a seminar school. To me, studying at a seminary was a great opportunity but the cost was so high to the extent my parents could seek help from relatives so that they can raise my tuition fees.
ASEF started supporting me. It was a great chance for my parents and me because that’s when I started studying with no issue. At my young age, my dream was to do my university studies abroad because their education is advanced and with favourable studying conditions. This made me start to look for a school abroad immediately after finishing secondary school.
I applied to over 20 schools; I can’t even recall all their names, unfortunately, all of them could reject my application immediately. Finally, I saw another scholarship announcement from High Education Council (HEC, Rwanda) for scholarships in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). After 2 days only, I received a message informing me that I got a scholarship. In the beginning, I never imagined how amazing my university was, hostels, where we study from and very delicious food that makes someone grow quickly. Some cars would come to pick me and take me for classes and other places without paying any single coin.
You may think that it was all just because I was bright, no. There are other classmates of mine who were able to pass the exams that I failed and got scholarships, yet I was better than them in class. Whatever you commit to do and put all possible efforts; you can achieve it.
Patience Irakoze
César Iturere Cyuzuzo
- Current sophomore at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln studying Conservation Agriculture
- ASEF student 2012 – 2018, Petit Séminaire Saint Jean de Nkumba
I am firstborn in a family of two siblings and a single mother. I didn’t have a chance of being raised with both parents; one of them couldn’t manage parenting responsibilities so he decided to leave us when we were still too young.
Though I was taught to always work hard when I was still so young, I didn’t have any hope for a bright future because even getting the basic needs at home was a very big problem. I will never forget the tears I shed when I was informed that I passed the exam to attend a seminary school, to me passing was meaningless because I didn’t have all I needed to attend that school.
ASEF became my second parent and provided me with everything I needed in my studies. I didn’t miss any school material or tuition fees. On a special note, ASEF became like a family to me, it is through that I was able to meet very special people, friends, its employees and leaders.
One of the most challenging ideas I have ever had is competing for a scholarship to study abroad with many bright people from rich families from all over the country. Though it was difficult for me to do it, I became bold and tried it then I came to realize that when you start to work hard when you are still very young, doors to a successful life open for you every day.
The values that help me every day are working hard and loving what I do, these make me successful in my studies and be able to help others as ASEF always encouraged us to do when we were still young.
African Students' Education Fund 