Allianz, DynExcAfrica and Enko Education: a tripartite partnership to support girls' education

• Allianz Group and Enko Education offer scholarships to young girls as part of their partnership with DynExcAfrica.
• Enko Education, a pan-African network of world-class schools, will host 2 girls on scholarship for 3 years in the science series at its school in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
• These scholarships are linked to the “STEM Girls CI” programme for the awareness and training of young girls and women from disadvantaged areas of Abidjan and the rural regions of Côte d’Ivoire in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

Abidjan, October, 2022 – Since February 2022, 2,000 girls have benefited from the “STEM Girls CI” programme, initiated by the NGO Dynamiques et Excellentes d’Afrique (DynExAfrica) and supported by the Allianz Group. The graduation ceremony of the beneficiaries took place on July 14 in Abobo, Abidjan. Given the projects initiated by these young girls initiated in STEM, and the hope to see them succeed in their studies and then positively impact their future and that of their communities, Allianz decided to reward their diligence and merit, by awarding 2 scholarships to the brightest of them.

Thus, Samira and Ariane, having both passed the selection stages, will be able to benefit from the financial support of the Allianz group and that of Enko Education, a pan-African network of world-class schools: they are now enrolled in the second year of scientific studies since the beginning of the school year 2022, and benefit from a total coverage of their school fees, school uniforms, subscriptions to the school canteen, as well as their transportation. Thus, Samira and Ariane, having both passed the selection stages, will be able to benefit from the financial support of the Allianz group and that of Enko Education, a pan-African network of world-class schools: they are now enrolled in the second year of scientific studies since the beginning of the school year 2022, and benefit from a total coverage of their school fees, school uniforms, subscriptions to the school canteen, as well as their transportation.

“I congratulate Samira and Ariane, who has brilliantly passed their entrance test at Enko Education. Enabling bright young girls to pursue their childhood dream of becoming engineers, doctors or high-level computer scientists is a key mission for Allianz: it allows us to demonstrate our confidence in Africa’s future and allows everyone in the community to move forward with confidence,” says Delphine Traoré, Regional CEO of Allianz Africa.

The Allianz Group financially supports students of Enko Education 

Allianz, a global leader in insurance and financial services, recognizes the importance of educating young girls about Africa’s development and thus wishes to contribute to sustainable development by training people capable of facing the continent’s technology challenges, which is why the group participates in Enko Education’s scholarship programme, to support bright but financially disadvantaged students.

“Science and technology is an opportunity to accelerate the development of the continent. Allianz sees a lot of potential in Africa and we believe that increasing the number of women in technology-related professions will allow us to better seize all opportunities to have a greater impact on sustainable development,” says Verena Rappel, Head of Allianz SE COO Office.

A rigorous selection with DynExAfrica

The beneficiaries of this scholarship, from the Lycée public d’Abobo, were first pre-selected by the NGO DynaExcAfrica on the basis of strict academic and social criteria. They then passed the admission test to Enko Education, to benefit from this full financial support for three years.

“The selection process was difficult, as the girls’ enthusiasm for the programme was real. Out of a projected 1,500 beneficiaries, we ended up educating and training 2,000 girls in STEM between February and July 2022. And out of the 3 girls initially pre-selected by DynExAfrica, Samira and Ariane are the ones who were finally selected following the admission test at Enko Education. They have the opportunity to live their dream by entering this world-class school, which is able to help them realize their dreams,” says Fognon Maïmouna Koné, Executive Director of DynExAfrica.

The winners are happy and already have clear plans for their future. After the introduction to STEM and following the first exchanges with their classmates and teachers, Samira wants to become a mechanical engineer. As for Ariane, she wants to be an aerospace engineer.

“We are delighted with this new partnership and the support of the Allianz group, with which we share many values. This first pilot project will be an example for all African and international companies who wish to concretely support education, especially the education of young girls. The confidence of the Allianz group in our system, allows us to give a wonderful opportunity to these young girls”, says Lea Tyburn, Social Impact Manager of Enko Education.

About Allianz

The Allianz Group is one of the world’s largest insurers and asset managers with 126 million individual and corporate customers in more than 70 countries. Allianz customers benefit from a wide range of personal and commercial insurance services, from property and casualty insurance, life and health insurance, and assistance services to credit insurance and international insurance programs. As one of the world’s largest investors, the Allianz Group manages an investment portfolio of €809 billion on behalf of its clients, while its fund management subsidiaries Allianz Global Investors and PIMCO manage an additional €2.0 trillion of assets on behalf of third parties. Thanks to the systematic integration of ecological, societal, and governance criteria into our business processes and investment decisions, Allianz holds the leading position among insurers in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, launched on 12.11.2021. In 2021, more than 155,000 employees contributed to a turnover of 148.5 billion euros and an operating profit of 13.4 billion euros. For more information, please visit: www.allianz.com

Allianz in Africa

Allianz has more than a century of history in Africa and has built and developed its presence there over the years. The Group continues to expand on the continent with a view to establishing its leadership in key markets.
Allianz is currently present in 14 African countries and supports its clients in 49 markets across the continent.
Regionally, the Group generated a total turnover in 2021 of €732 million (excluding GATS).

For more information, please visit www.allianz-africa.com

For more information, please contact
Allianz Africa:
Jean-Claude Bilgo Tel: +2250778551199, e-mail: jean-claude.bilgo@allianz.com

About Dynamics and Excellence in Africa (DynExcAfrica)

Dynamiques et Excellences in Africa (DynExcAfrica) is a pan-African NGO created in Côte d’Ivoire in 2018, whose goal is to accompany youth from disadvantaged neighborhoods and rural areas to achieve academic excellence while facilitating their exposure to STEM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Mathematics).

Ultimately, DynExcAfrica’s vision is to contribute to the financial empowerment of young women and the affirmation of their leadership in an increasingly digitalized world.

About Enko Education

Enko Education is a fast-growing network of African international schools, increasing access to the world’s best universities for learners across Africa.

Enko Education leverages the programmes of the International Baccalaureate to offer students a holistic, learner-centered education. Furthermore, Enko schools are future-oriented and learners are supported in their higher education aspirations through our university guidance programme. With 13 schools across 9 African countries, Enko Education is the biggest IB network in Africa.

For more information, visit ww.enkoeducation.com

Léa Tyburn Tel: +33650534635, e-mail: lea.tyburn@enkoeducation.com