TASOK alumni fund for Congolese university scholarships
- mary sanichas
- Oct 6
- 3 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Many Education Congo board members, including Jimmy Shafe ’67 and Margaret Loewen ‘72, grew up in Congo and attended The American School of Kinshasa (TASOK). Because we saw the need, we all became involved in Education Congo, which raises funds for higher education as the long-term solution for building a stronger Congo. Our deep connections to Congo have also led to the development of the TASOK Scholarship Fund for UPC students.
Many of the students' families cannot come up with annual tuition of only $800-$1,200. We need your help as we continue to grow the TASOK (The American School of Kinshasa) Alumni Scholarship Fund for Congolese students at Université Protestante au Congo (UPC).
Envision a university that has grown from 3 (yes three) to 9,000 students during the past 60 years—in what has been the direst of circumstances at times. That is Université Protestante au Congo.
Many of you personally recall fellow TASOK students whose families formed the original faculty of the university. From the original School of Theology, UPC has now expanded to include Schools of Business/Economics, Law, Medicine and Computer Science.
UPC graduates are making a difference
UPC’s alumni have gone on to receive Fulbright Scholarships and work in a variety of sectors ranging from private equity firms to nonprofits. Seven UPC graduates are now serving in government, five of which are women—including the Minister of Foreign Affairs who met recently with the Duchess of Edinburgh during her 2025 visit to Congo. The former Rector of UPC, the late Dr. Daniel Ngoy, was a UPC alumnus.
Another PhD graduate of UPC, Fatuma Ngongo Kilongo, is the first woman head of Université Evangélique en Afrique in Bukavu, the other university that Education Congo partners with.
Tuition shortfall fundraisers
Last year, almost 1,000 UPC students were unable to pay their entire tuition or the balance of their tuition at the end of the year, resulting in being unable to take exams and proceed to the next year of studies. Education Congo has had successful fundraisers to help fill the tuition gap for many of these students. Please contact us if you are interested in providing matching funds for our next tuition shortfall fundraiser.
Support the education solution in Congo!
You can make a positive, lasting impact on this country that ranks near the bottom of the U.N. Development Index (a measurement of a country’s achievement in health, knowledge and standard of living). Congo’s potential for stability and growth in the heart of Africa is tremendous. Education is the key.
Make a contribution to TASOK's Scholarship Fund for UPC students. Proceeds from this fund pay for scholarships year after year. The larger the fund, the larger the payoff—so please help to keep building this fund!
To donate online at our secure payment portal, click the button below:
We are also happy to accept donations by check. Note “TASOK Alumni” on the memo line and mail to Education Congo, PO Box 29, Lamar CO 81052 USA.
If you would like to start a new named fund with the designation of your choice, email info@educationcongo.org
If you are taking distributions from your IRA, you might consider making a direct donation from your account to Education Congo. The distribution amount that is paid directly to Education Congo would not be taxable to you and could save you some income tax dollars. Please talk to your financial and/or tax advisors on how to best make this kind of donation. (If you go this route, be sure to notify us with details.)
Balance updates
10/15/2024
The balance is $52,018 with its earnings paying out every year for scholarships at Université Protestante au Congo. Bravo TASOK Alumni—let's keep building this fund!
5/23/2025
Current balance has grown to $56,008! The higher the fund—the greater the number of scholarships it can support.
7/7/2025
Now up to $59,637—keep those donations coming!
10/20/2025
Current balance at $62,037!
When qualifying students receive named-fund scholarships, it is for the duration of their studies. This makes a huge difference when you consider that a student could otherwise be obliged to drop out just short of becoming a doctor or lawyer or computer science professional!
Alumni from The American School of Kinshasa, attended by a highly diverse (and unusual) body of students over the years, have really risen to the occasion in supporting this fund! However, anyone can contribute to any Education Congo fund, so please help to spread the word by sharing the link to this website or clicking the Facebook icon to share to your personal Facebook page. Thank you.