Frequently Asked Questions

Students qualify if they have lost at least one parent. This includes:

• Students who have lost their father (single mother families)
• Students who have lost their mother (single father families)
• Students who have lost both parents (complete orphans)
• Students with unknown or absent parents

You must provide appropriate documentation such as death certificates or guardian statements.

We support students at various educational levels:

• Primary School: Primary 1-6
• Junior High School: JHS 1-3
• University Students: All levels (100-600)
• High School Graduates: With or without university admission

Priority is given to engineering and health-related programs at the university level.

For university students, we focus on:

• Engineering programs (Civil, Mining, Electrical, etc.)
• Health-related programs (Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, etc.)
• Agriculture and related fields
• Science and technology programs

For primary and JHS students, all programs are welcome as they prepare for future specialization.

Our focus is on students attending or planning to attend public institutions in Ghana. This is because:

• Public education is more accessible and affordable long-term
• Our scholarship amounts are designed for public institution fees
• We want to maximize the impact of our limited resources

The application process is straightforward:

• Step 1: Fill out our online application form
• Step 2: Upload all required documents
• Step 3: Submit your application via email
• Step 4: Wait for confirmation of receipt
• Step 5: Selected candidates will be invited for interviews

All applications are reviewed carefully, and you'll receive updates on your status.

Required documents for all applicants:

• Birth certificate
• Recent academic records (report cards/transcripts)
• Death certificate(s) of deceased parent(s)
• Guardian identification and contact information

Additional documents (if applicable):

• University admission letter
• WASSCE results
• Passport-sized photographs

We accept applications throughout the year, but we have specific review periods:

• Main Review: March - May (for next academic year)
• Secondary Review: August - September (for emergency cases)
• Rolling Basis: Exceptional cases reviewed as needed

The typical timeline is:

• Application Review: 2-3 weeks
• Interview Process: 1 week
• Final Decision: 1 week after interview
• Award Notification: Within 1 month of application

You'll receive email updates at each stage of the process.

Our standard scholarship award is GH₵ 7,000 per academic year.

This amount is designed to cover:

• Tuition fees (partial or full, depending on institution)
• Academic materials and books
• Basic living expenses contribution
• Examination fees

Scholarship duration depends on your academic level:

• Primary School: Until completion of Primary 6
• Junior High School: Until completion of JHS 3
• University Programs: Up to 4 years (or program duration)
• Extended Programs: 5-6 years for medicine/pharmacy

Renewal is not automatic and depends on maintaining good academic standing and meeting scholarship requirements.

Currently, we award approximately 6-8 new scholarships per year.

The exact number depends on:

• Available funding for that year
• Quality of applications received
• Continuing support for existing recipients
• Emergency or special cases

To maintain your scholarship, you must:

• Maintain a minimum CGPA/CWA of 65% or equivalent
• Submit transcripts at the end of each semester
• Remain enrolled full-time in your program
• Not fail more than one course per semester
• Participate in required check-ins with the Foundation
• Maintain good character and conduct

We Smile Foundation was founded by a PhD student who experienced similar challenges as an orphaned child navigating the educational system in Ghana.

Our founder's story:

• Started as an orphaned student who struggled financially through school
• Received help from kind strangers and community members
• Now pursuing PhD studies and using stipend to help other students
• Committed to ensuring no orphaned child faces education alone

We Smile Foundation is a very new organization, recently established with a clear mission to support orphaned students in Ghana.

What this means for applicants:

• We're small but deeply committed to each student
• Personalized attention and support
• Direct relationship with founder and team
• Growing impact as we secure more funding
• Opportunity to be part of our founding story

No, we work directly with individual students.

This approach means:

• We focus on the student's personal needs and circumstances
• More flexible support based on individual situations
• Direct communication between student and foundation
• No institutional bureaucracy to navigate
• Students can attend any accredited public university in Ghana

We may develop university partnerships in the future as we grow.

Currently, our scholarships are funded through:

• Founder's savings - Personal commitment to the cause
• Individual donations - From supporters who believe in our mission
• Small fundraising efforts - Community support
• Personal sacrifices - Reinvesting any available resources

Primary Contact: [email protected]

Response Time: We aim to respond within 2-3 business days

Best Times to Contact:

• Monday - Friday for general inquiries
• During application periods for urgent questions
• Allow extra time during peak application seasons

As a new organization, we operate primarily online and through email communication.

For meetings:

• Virtual meetings can be arranged for serious applicants
• Phone calls available for urgent matters
• Physical meetings in Ghana can be arranged on special occasions

Contact us at [email protected] to schedule a virtual meeting.

Don't hesitate to reach out! We're here to help.

When contacting us, please include:

• Your full name and age
• Your current academic status
• Specific question or concern
• Any relevant background information

Email: [email protected]