The Shakira Choonara Young African Scholarship Award is awarded each year to a deserving final year student at either the undergraduate or postgraduate level. The scholarship supports final year tuition fees for a disadvantaged student. The student must be pursuing a university degree and have a track record of academic excellence (70% or more in the current and previous years of study.) Studies in the broader development field will be supported, desirable fields include health sciences and gender studies.
Who is Shakira Choonara
Dr Shakira Choonara is a multi-award-winning public health practitioner, bold activist, 2017 Woman of the Year in Health in South Africa (SA) and holds accolades including Destiny Magazines Most Powerful Woman under 40 in SA, listed as a 100 Most Influential Young African and the 2017 National Research Foundation of SA Next Generation Researcher. Dr Choonara is extremely passionate about uplifting the African continent and as a means of giving back, in 2022 she launched the annual Shakira Choonara Young African Scholarship Programme, supporting well-deserving youth to complete their final year of university.
Eligibility
Application criteria for those who wish to apply:
- Youth between the ages of 21-35 years-old
- The applicant must be a citizen of any of the 54 African states
- A proven track record of academic excellence
- Demonstrate financial need i.e. require the scholarship to settle final year tuition fees in order to complete their academic degree
- The applicant must be in the final year of studies (undergraduate or postgraduate) at an African university
Documents required
Documents you will need to upload in PDF format:
- Copy of national document
- University transcript
- 1 Page motivational letter
- 2 Page curriculum vitae (CV) including references
- Fees statement including university contact and banking details
- 2 Recommendation letters with contact details
Application deadline
September 30th, 2024.
Apply online now at the Shakira Choonara scholarship website.
