Growing up in Saint Mary’s, Zimbabwe, Samantha Mavunga observed that some parents in her neighborhood did not appreciate the importance of education in their children’s lives. She felt lucky that her grandmother saw a need to take her through O and A levels, but she couldn’t shake off the frustration that many others may not have the opportunity.

“After my A-level, I took action, Samantha shared.” “I started Aim to Shine, a project that mentors children from age 6, helping them with homework and introducing them to extracurricular activities.”

During this time, Samantha also got awarded a Mastercard Foundation Scholarship to study Computer Science at Ashesi in Ghana. Despite being far from home, she ensured that Aim to Shine continued to operate, liaising with local teachers to take over the project.

While #AtAshesi, she co-founded Toda Beverages, a company that produces carbon-free drinks from the Baobab fruit and seeks to create more revenue for Baobab farmers in the Northern part of Ghana.

While Samantha’s graduation means a lot to her, she’s even more excited to leave behind a student she tutored through Aim to Shine, who joined Ashesi and is in the class of 2024.