AIA's co-founder, Brendan Callahan, first went on a relief trip to Tanzania in the summer of 2007, when he witnessed the lack of educational infrastructure in the country firsthand. He was inspired by the children's enthusiasm for learning, despite the distressed state and lack of schools. Noticing the need across the country and limited help available, Brendan and classmate Alyssa Snow formed Achieve in Africa as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in September 2008 to help improve education in rural areas of Africa that are most in need.

To date, AIA has established the Pen Pal Friends program, provided school supplies, and built two new classrooms for Olasiti Primary School to help improve the teacher-to-student ratio.

Currently, the organization plans to also build Olasiti Village a Secondary School as well as build a Community Learning Center for Ulolela Village.