African Leadership Academy (ALA) 2024

African Leadership Academy (ALA) seeks to enroll the most outstanding young leaders, aged 15 - 18, from across Africa and around the world. Only the most passionate and brilliant young leaders can transform the future of our continent. Are you one of them?

Applications open on July 1, 2024 for the Class of 2025.

African Leadership Academy is unlike any other educational institution you will come across. At ALA we seek to change Africa! We believe that this transformation lies in the hands and minds of young people with a desire to move the continent toward peace and prosperity. At ALA we will challenge you to realize your academic and leadership potential. You will be encouraged to begin addressing the social, economic, and political issues facing Africa. You will be asked to think critically about your role in our changing world. ALA seeks to enroll young people aged 15 to 18 based on the criteria below:

Intellectual Readiness

• The applicant is intellectually prepared to step into a rigorous environment which will require them to push the boundaries of their learning.
• ALA students demonstrate academic achievement through strong performance and consistent improvement in their secondary school. They are driven to learn and achieve, and they set high standards for themselves. Their academic performance gives confidence that they can thrive in the rigorous ALA curriculum.
• ALA students are intellectually curious. Their learning is not confined to a classroom. They seek to learn from every opportunity and challenge and aspire to be lifelong learners. They delight in learning when faced with an unfamiliar problem or new idea.
• ALA students demonstrate critical thinking and can break down complex problems in the classroom and beyond.

Interdependence

• The applicant recognizes that transformation is the product of work with, and through, others.
• ALA students are resourceful and seek help when needed. They are not afraid to seek help or activate their networks when they need support.
• ALA students are interested in engaging with those from different backgrounds and who have differing opinions. We believe that differences should be celebrated as a source of community strength. ALA students embrace differences of opinion, valuing respectful and productive dialogue as an avenue for individual and communal learning.
• ALA students foster relationships with others and value building meaningful relationships and partnerships with those in their community.
• ALA students practice gratitude, acknowledging, with humility, that their success builds upon the efforts of others.

Ownership

• The applicant ‘drives the bus’ in their leadership journey: they envision a destination and have the self-belief to take charge of their journey towards impact.
• ALA students are ambitious. They dream big; they set the bar high and push themselves to meet those standards.
• ALA students have a commitment to positive change and aspire beyond success for themselves to lives of significance, in which they are remembered for their impact on others.
• ALA students show a passion for Africa and aspire to play a role in the continent’s advancement.

Courage & Perseverance

• The applicant shows the motivation to take initiative and rigorously follow through on the opportunities that matter most to them.
• ALA students have initiative. They have the courage to do hard things when they set their mind to something that feels important.
• They are not easily deterred.
• ALA students follow through. They persevere through challenges and are resilient, with the fortitude to push through failure.
• ALA students are self-driven. They do not wait for instructions or only act when told by others.
• They take ownership of their own learning and leadership journey.

ALA is one of the most prestigious education institutions in the world, with a unique financial model designed to enable us to identify, develop and connect Africa’s future leaders. Everyone who applies and is then admitted to ALA, regardless of financial background or nationality, is eligible to receive significant financial assistance in the form of scholarships and loans towards studying at ALA and accessing membership to our lifelong network. The cost of tuition at ALA is USD $30,900 per year.

At ALA, the value of financial awards is determined after admissions decisions have been made. Fees charged to a given student will be based on a family’s financial means. We expect that every family will stretch themselves to finance the ALA education, just as we ask ALA’s network of supporters from around the world to stretch themselves to ensure that every admitted student is able to attend. Students from more financially disadvantaged backgrounds receive more significant financial assistance from ALA, and families with more resources are expected to contribute more to their child’s education at ALA.

Every student will sign the ALA Social Contract – a commitment to contribute to peace and prosperity on the continent for at least 10 years in return for the financial assistance provided by our community.

The all-inclusive cost of $30,900 per annum to attend ALA includes:

• All-inclusive for fees for a full year covering tuition, accommodation, sports, activities, meals and uniforms.
• Full access to ALA’s campus facilities including entertainment areas, sports fields, high-speed fibre internet, biometric security control.
• There is proactive health and wellness care, including private medical insurance for every student.
• The Explore Johannesburg program, which gets students out and about in our world-class African city, attending cultural and entertainment events.
• Access to our exclusive and globally renowned University Guidance and “next steps” team, who will advise ALA families on tertiary study, gap year and other options.
• Exclusive access to the Africa Careers Network, a team at ALA dedicated to finding and securing employment for ALA graduates across the continent with top employers.

All financial assistance awards are determined after an in-depth financial needs assessment, and require the commitment to the Social Contract. If a student breaks their commitment to the social contract, their scholarship will convert into an interest bearing loan, such that they create an ALA experience for another future African leader.