Nairobi — Hundreds of low-income and refugee students across East Africa are set to access international higher education opportunities after African NGO Malengo secured Sh1.7 billion ($12.9 million) from The Shapiro Foundation.

The impact investment will strengthen Malengo's vocational training and university sponsorship programs across Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda, boosting the earning potential of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Founded in 2021 by Cornell University Professor Johannes Haushofer, Malengo promotes international educational migration as a pathway to economic empowerment.

The organization has already enrolled over 500 scholars, helping them transition from living on Sh185 per day to graduate careers in Europe earning starting salaries above Sh5.3 million annually.

Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn

"This new investment will enable us to expand into a new country, strengthen our existing programs, and transform thousands of lives," said Haushofer.

The funding, announced in Berlin, will also support Malengo's entry into Rwanda, where its first cohort of 53 refugee scholars has already begun studies.

Shapiro Foundation Trustee Ed Shapiro praised Malengo's measurable impact and commitment to long-term refugee empowerment, saying the program "creates durable solutions and paths to self-reliance."

Malengo's model operates on a sustainable Income Share Agreement (ISA), where students repay only after securing jobs above a set income threshold, allowing each cohort to help finance the next.