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From Eastleigh to the world: How gamble to study in Ukraine birthed Ali’s business idea

Abdiwahab Mahmoud,a partner at the Edvance Study Abroad Consultancy, attends to a client at their offices in Eastleigh, Nairobi. (Photo: Barack Oduor)

By Barack Oduor | 06 May 2024

His idea was informed by the realisation that most agencies offering similar services focus on premium destinations.

When Ali Abdirahman posted an impressive grade of A minus in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination in 2015, his expectations to go abroad and study medicine were high.

With his good grades, he moved from one travel agency to another in search of an institution that offered affordable courses. But to his shock, most were charging exorbitant fees. Still, he needed quite an amount of money for travelling.

It was at this point that an ambitious Ali settled on Ukraine as the country he would go to study medicine.

“I had never imagined that studying in universities abroad would be so expensive. I realised that the destinations that were offered by most travel agencies were costly and students from poor backgrounds could not afford them,” says Ali.

His decision to study dentistry at a Ukrainian university in 2016 birthed in him a modest business idea.

He began helping Kenyan students who yearned to study abroad but could not easily identify universities and destinations that were tailored to their needs and financial capabilities.

“I saw a big market gap when Kenyan students who wanted to study various courses abroad began consulting me about affordable courses and destinations abroad. Many students lacked information, especially on the job market and how to navigate it. I decided to help facilitate their travel processes by charging them some fee,” says Ali.

Upon his graduation in 2021, Ali returned to Kenya and used the savings he earned from helping students seek education abroad to begin his agency.

Studying abroad can be expensive. Therefore, those who join universities in foreign countries have to look for student jobs, seek scholarships, and find other creative ways to save money.

“How much it costs to study abroad depends on the country you go to and, of course, how long you stay. Beyond programme fees, you’ll also have to consider ticket price, transportation, accommodation, and the general cost of living during your study overseas,” notes Ali.

In July last year, he formally registered his agency, Edvance, which offers comprehensive information, professional guidance, and a range of services to students seeking education abroad.

Edvance, which is located on Eastleigh’s General Waruingi Street, also provides educational advisory services, career counselling, university admission assistance, visa support, pre-departure briefings, accommodation arrangements, flight bookings, and airport pickups.

A female staff member of Edvance Study Abroad Consultancy at their offices in Eastleigh, Nairobi. (Photo: Barack Oduor)

“Our is always to ensure there is a seamless and successful educational journey for our clients because most students seeking to study abroad are afraid of unfamiliar territories,” explains Ali.

Ali’s idea was informed by the realisation that most agencies offering similar services focus on premium destinations that are expensive for most students, especially those from poor backgrounds.

Premium destinations

The premium destinations include Canada, the USA, and Australia, where university education is costly.

Ali focuses on both premium and affordable destinations.

“The affordable destinations include all countries in Eastern Europe where living expenses are cheaper compared to Western Europe. Countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and China also fall in the affordable destinations category,” he says.

Ali says Edvance has forged strong connections and partnerships with popular universities and educational institutions globally, allowing it to offer a wide range of academic options to students.

To help students effectively and responsibly manage their social lives in foreign lands, the agency has a team of accomplished career counsellors and experienced visa specialists with expertise in international education.

“Many students usually get discouraged due to myths about studying abroad. The journey from choosing a course to stepping foot on campus sometimes appears to be full of hurdles. But good planning and a positive mindset can help a lot,” Ali says.

He also advises students to learn the languages of host countries as this is important in getting employment there.

“Knowing the culture and language of various countries is important. We get this done through our partnership with organisations that rank high with learning institutions. That sometimes also helps students to graduate with dual degrees from selected universities abroad,” he says.

Inside the Edvance Study Abroad Consultancy offices in Eastleigh, Nairobi. (Photo: Barack Oduor)

Ali says that it takes between three weeks and three months to complete the admission process as this depends on the destination.

Edvance visits schools to offer career guidance and exposure to universities abroad to Kenyan students.

“We have gone to Wajir, Garissa and Namanga towns and we are soon opening branches in Somali cities such as Hargesia and Garowe,” Ali says.

Ahmed Mohamed, a beneficiary of Ali’s venture who studied Mechanical Engineering in Malaysia and now works in Mombasa, told The Eastleigh Voice that Edvance connected him with the Kenyan community in Malaysia, which helped make him feel at home during his stay there.

"Sometimes, when studying and living in a foreign country, one feels lonely because of culture shock," says Ahmed.

Ali believes in a personalised approach to education consulting. He takes time to understand each student's unique goals, preferences, and challenges and tailors his services accordingly.

His vision is to have his agency recognised as the most trusted and most preferred educational advisory firm in East Africa and beyond.

“We aim to continue expanding our reach to serve more students from diverse communities and make a positive impact on their lives through access to international education,” Ali says.