it takes a village
to educate the future.
one person’s contribution creates possibility. twenty people’s contributions create a future where education is accessible to all. that’s soma, a community-powered education fund putting higher education within reach of all.
built on transparency, equity and accountability.
funds are pooled, every contribution is tracked, every decision is shared, and every student is selected through a fair, community-driven process — ensuring access to higher education is open, inclusive, and accountable to all.
transparency
every cedi raised, every cedi spent, visible to everyone who gives.Â
equity
every deserving student gets the support they need, not just the opportunity to compete.
accountability
we report openly and act with integrity, every decision shared, every outcome measured.
soma brings everyday people together to fund higher education across ghana.
every year, thousands of students never make it to tertiary education — not because they lack talent, but because they lack money. soma is the community’s answer: everyday people pooling resources to fund deserving students through higher education.
higher education
learning beyond secondary school in all its forms, including universities, technical training, certifications, and apprenticeships, focused on building real skills, real opportunities, and the businesses of the future.
democratized
decision-making is shared across the community. the people who give play an active role in how support is provided and who receives it.
community
a diverse network of individuals, organisations, and businesses brought together by a shared commitment to making higher education more accessible.
collective giving
resources are brought together, including money, time, and expertise, to create a fund that supports students in meaningful and sustainable ways.
pillars
the principles that hold soma accountable and trustworthy.
/ PILLAR 1
transparency
we operate openly, ensuring that decisions, funding, and outcomes are visible to the community. every cedi raised and spent is recorded in soma’s public open ledger. givers see every transaction, every disbursement, and every decision.
/ PILLAR 2
equity
we are committed to fair access, ensuring that every deserving student, regardless of background or financial means, has a genuine opportunity to pursue higher education.
/ PILLAR 3
ujima
collective work and responsibility. soma belongs to its community — not its founder, not its trustees, not any single person. its success is shared, and so is the responsibility to sustain and grow it.
our scholarship focus areas
soma funds six fields where talent is abundant, opportunity is scarce, and the community impact of one educated person is highest.
engineering & infrastructure
building the physical systems that power economies. soma invests in engineers who will not just participate in africa’s growth, but define it.
tech & intelligent systems
AI, machine learning, IoT, and robotics.
soma supports those building intelligent systems that are locally relevant and globally competitive.
healthcare & applied sciences
specialist medical training and sciences with direct community application. soma backs specialists driving improvements in care, research, and health systems across the continent.
agriculture & food systems
agribusiness, agricultural engineering, and sustainability. soma invests in those who see agriculture not as tradition, but as a modern high-impact sector.
technical & vocational skills
practical, job-ready, high-demand trades and certifications. soma supports pathways that lead to immediate productivity, entrepreneurship, and economic participation.
creative & cultural industries
Arts, media, and creative economies.
soma invests in creatives building sustainable careers and contributing to africa’s global creative economy.
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.