higher education belongs to all
a democratised education fund that puts higher education within reach of deserving students who dare to dream bigger. a scholarship fund by the people, for the people, and with the people.
Jan 2027
first scholarship cohort launches
why soma?
financial barriers block access to higher education
98% of young people in africa start primary school. only 9% reach tertiary education. and just 6% of those who enrol actually graduate. sub-saharan africa has the lowest tertiary enrolment rate of any region in the world — and 1 in 4 young africans is unemployed.
tertiary enrollment rate in africa compared to 38% globally
of sub-saharan africa’s 8.1 million tertiary students are reached by sponsorships.
0.4%
our ceeee model
this is the heart of our vision, where we define the principles that shape our community-centred scholarship fund. soma goes beyond financial aid, taking a holistic approach to education through the ceeee model: collect, educate, encourage, employ, and elevate.
c – collect
givers contribute monthly to the fund. every cedi is tracked, pooled, and made publicly visible in soma’s open ledger. no black boxes.
e – educate
selected scholars receive financial support to pursue their chosen accredited programme; university, technical college, vocational training, or professional certification.
e – encourage
soma connects scholars with employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, through community networks, partner organisations, and alumni connections.
e – employ
scholars become givers. givers become advocates. the cycle continues, each cohort lifting the next. that’s the soma chain.
e – elevate
scholars become givers. givers become advocates. the cycle continues each cohort lifting the next. that’s the soma chain.
what it means to be a giver
joining soma is more than a monthly contribution; you become an active part of a community that funds, selects, and supports scholars together.
contribute
join the soma community by making a monthly pledge of at least GH¢50. your contribution goes directly into the fund, helping to fully sponsor deserving young people and give them access to higher education, while also supporting the programs and resources that help them succeed.
track
all finances and transactions are recorded in a public ledger. your dashboard lets you track your total contributions, monitor the fund’s progress, stay updated on the scholars you support, and access academic reports from the students your community has funded.
vote
voting sessions are held to approve key funding decisions on anonymised scholar profiles. by casting your vote, you play a crucial role in determining who receives support, helping deserving students access higher education and unlock their full potential. programs and resources that help them succeed.
fundÂ
selected scholars receive full financial support for their education. tuition, materials and development all covered by the community, for the community.
elevate
as soma grows, so does your role. givers who stay engaged become advocates, mentors, and connectors; supporting scholars, expanding the community, and inspiring the next wave of contributors. you don’t just fund the future; you help shape it.
open financial records
soma is built on transparency. every cedi received, managed, and used is fully visible to the community.
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one story that shows what becomes possible when access meets opportunity. this is the impact of soma in action. and a glimpse of what many more stories can become.
success story from our the our trial cohort
currently funding
fatima issah mahama
bsc. mining engeering
university of mines and technology (ghana)
from ghana’s upper east region, she topped her class at both junior and senior high school. but financial constraints forced her into early marriage before she could pursue tertiary education. as a single mother, returning to education felt impossible. soma changed that, giving her the platform and the funding to pursue mining engineering, and proving that talent, not a bank account, should determine who gets to build a future.
frequently asked questions
every transaction is recorded publicly on our finances page in real time. we also publish quarterly impact reports sent directly to every giver. you will always know exactly where every cedi goes.
100% of your contribution goes into the soma money pot. every cedi is tracked publicly on our finances page. you can see every transaction in real time: what came in, what went out, and which scholar received what.
you do. as a founding giver you receive voting rights and participate in the scholar selection process. candidates are shortlisted by the soma team and anonymised before givers vote. the community decides, not a committee.
soma scholarships cover tuition fees, learning materials, academic resources, and professional development programmes. support is not limited to universities. vocational training, certifications, and apprenticeships all qualify.v
soma was founded by anthony ofori-nyarko, a talent and careers professional based in accra, ghana. soma is governed by a board of trustees and operated by a lean core team committed to transparency and community accountability.
yes, soma welcomes corporate partners. corporate partners receive named recognition on the soma website, co-branded scholar certificates, and featured placement in quarterly impact reports.
soma scholars join the soma alumni network. they are expected to complete a community impact project during their studies and remain connected to the soma community as mentors, advocates, and future supporters of the next generation of scholars.
it takes a village to build a future.