AkarakA is a non-profit organisation founded in Singapore in the year 2010, based on the principle that education is the key to eliminating poverty. We award scholarships to underprivileged students to ease the monetary burdens of higher education.

We work in conjunction with educational institutions and NGO’s to identify students who show great promise but are financially struggling to stay in school. Selection criteria take into account; family income, enrolment in a recognized educational institution, and includes an interview process involving both the student and their immediate family.

A scholarship may cover; formal classroom education including vocational studies, tuition fees or non-tuition costs such as living expenses, books or materials.

Our scholars are generally the first in their family to enter higher education. We match our students with a mentor from the corporate world for guidance, to impart employability skills and an awareness of social responsibility within the workplace and their community.

Students are encouraged to attend seminars run by AkarakA. These seminars incorporate presentations by our corporate partners with topics aimed at the transition to paid employment.

AkarakA (from the West African Ibo language) means “Handprint” and “Destiny” – as in “Destiny is in our hands”. It connotes personal ownership and is also a play on “hand-in-hand”, and refers to the connectedness of our individual and collective destinies, that everyone needs a helping hand in their journey.

Akaraka funding may be directed towards the following student expenses:

• All formal classroom education including vocational studies;
• Tuition fees which are determined by the educational institution;
• Non-tuition costs which are pre-determined and assessed by AkarakA (for example travel costs to commute to school, or books or materials for a particular course may be covered).

Please contact us for more information regarding how our scholarships are distributed to selected students.

Operating expenses are funded by donor organisations, generous individuals and corporations. AkarakA’s financial expenses and overheads are transparent and available for review by all our partners and donor members.

You can help us by simply helping us to spread the word. “Like” the Akaraka Facebook page, sign up for our newsletter, attend an event, become a volunteer or a student mentor.