The HALI Indaba is an annual gathering of non-profit organizations united in one mission: to support high-achieving, low-income students from across Africa in their search for a quality university education.  The first such gathering in April 2016, generously supported by the Higher Life Foundation , brought as many relevant groups and organizations together as possible to share our experiences, our strategies and our stories.

People who have started initiatives to assist high-achieving, low-income African students to access international educational opportunities, especially generous financial aid and scholarship funds offered by some colleges and universities in the United States, rarely have the opportunity to meet.  When they do, it is in twos or threes at US or European-based conferences where they have been invited to present.

Believing that the sum can be greater than the parts, the High Achieving Low Income (HALI) Indaba, which took place April 12-14, 2016, was an opportunity for leaders of organizations and initiatives across Africa to share best practices for supporting high-achieving, low-income African students in their pursuit of higher education in the USA.  This gathering, at Chengeta Lodge in Zimbabwe, was an opportunity for participants to learn from each other in areas that include standardized testing prep, ethics and discussion of actual case studies, pre-departure orientation, follow through during the degree, program selection processes and more.

Participants are key leaders (founders/directors)  of approximately 25 organizations from across the continent who were specifically invited based on their impact.  The event was conceived of and is being organized by Rebecca Zeigler Mano, Founder/Director  of the United States Achievers Program (USAP) and Director of Education Matters in Zimbabwe and Rebekah Westphal, Director of International Admissions at Yale University.

Read more about the 2016 HALI Indaba from Yale University here as well reflections from some of our partner organizations Ahaspora Young Professionals in Ghana and Our Moon who works in Zambia.