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By 2050 the majority of the world’s student age population will be in Africa. African graduates and researchers will play a key role in contributing to the future of not just the continent, but the world.

Collage with pictures of the Mastercard Scholars

Here we meet some of the 2024/25 Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program students at the University of Oxford under the Africa Oxford Initiative (AfOx), which aims to increase the number of African students pursuing postgraduate degrees here. These outstanding Mastercard Foundation Scholars are all receiving full scholarships for a rigorous one-year taught postgraduate course, leadership and impact programme, entrepreneurship support and networking opportunities. The scholarship supports Mastercard Foundation Scholars before, during and following their time at Oxford including developing a lifelong network of Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Alumni who collectively will rise to meet Africa’s challenges and opportunities.

 

Fidelity Ndali, from Zimbabwe, is pursuing an MSc in Modelling for Global Health at the Nuffield Department of Medicine, and is a member of Kellogg College. He graduated with First Class Honours in Applied Mathematics with Economics from the University of Zimbabwe and is interested in the role that mathematical and economic modelling can play in informing public health policy in low and middle-income countries, particularly for infectious diseases.  

After completing his MSc, Fidelity plans to collaborate with NGOs and other organisations on global health research projects. He aims to pursue a PhD, with the long-term goal of translating complex modelling results into practical policy solutions, particularly for the African region.

Nashwa Mohammed is from Sudan and is studying for a Master’s in International Health and Tropical Medicine at the Nuffield Department of Medicine. She is a member of Hertford College. Nashwa graduated from the University of Khartoum and is the founder of Fadfada, a mental health provider startup for provides remote online therapy. Her work focuses on bridging the gender gap in the workforce by partnering primarily with female psychologists. Through collaborations with local and international organisations, including the World Health Organization, Fadfada provides therapy to survivors of violence during the Sudanese revolution and ongoing conflicts. 

After completing her studies at Oxford, Nashwa plans to use evidence-based approaches to combat mental health stigma and develop culturally sensitive interventions. She aims to leverage technology to transform mental health services in Sudan, across Africa, and globally.

 

Read the full story on the University of Oxford website.