Category: Leadership

Mandela Washington Fellowship returns to App State in summer 2022

By Jessica Stump | Appalachian Today

BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University has been selected as an Institute Partner for the 2022 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. Beginning in mid-June, App State will host 25 of Africa’s bright, emerging Civic Engagement leaders for a six-week, on-campus Leadership Institute, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship, the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), empowers young African leaders through academic coursework, leadership training, mentoring, networking, professional opportunities and local community engagement.

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Purdue University to Host 2020 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders

Purdue University is proud to announce its selection as an Institute Partner for the 2020 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.  Beginning in mid-June, Purdue University will host 25 of Africa’s bright, emerging Business leaders for a six-week Leadership Institute, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.

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Mandela Washington Fellowship returns to University of Georgia in summer 2020

The University of Georgia is proud to announce its selection as an Institute Partner for the 2020 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. Beginning in mid-June, UGA will host 25 of Africa’s bright, emerging Civic Engagement leaders for a six-week Leadership Institute, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.

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Educational Institutions Across United States to Host Mandela Washington Fellows

Launched in 2014, the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) and embodies the United States’ commitment to invest in the future of Africa.  YALI was created in 2010 and is celebrating its 10th anniversary supporting young Africans as they spur economic growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa.  Since 2014, nearly 4,400 young leaders from every country in Sub-Saharan Africa have participated in the Mandela Washington Fellowship.

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A Network of African Business Influencers, Minted in Atlanta

By Trevor Williams

The Mandela Washington Fellows who visited Atlanta for six weeks in June and July were emphatically positive about the leadership program that brought them across the Atlantic.

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African fellows learn new business skills at the University of Iowa

By Thomas Friestad

Though they’ve got only a few weeks left in Iowa, about two dozen business leaders and entrepreneurs from sub-Saharan Africa are making the most of it. Hailing from 19 countries, the 25 visitors were chosen through the six-week Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative, funded with a $150,000 U.S. State Department grant.

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“It was absolutely powerful and riveting.” Meeting Between Nehemiah, Young African Leaders

By David Dahmer

“I didn’t realize that being among these African leaders how I would feel so empowered. For me, they represent world history but also the future. We felt connected even though we hadn’t met before,” says Dr. Rev. Alex Gee. “There was something extremely powerful about people across the African diaspora [coming together]. We need to have more gatherings like this. It really moved me.”

On July 9, Dr. Gee and his team at Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership Development hosted the Mandela Washington Fellows of the African Studies Program at UW-Madison.

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Mandela Washington Fellows make stop in Williamsburg, learn from local leaders


By SaraRose Martin

A group of 25 young Africans with passions for journalism, human rights, law, gender equality, peace and nonprofit work stayed in Williamsburg the past two weeks for an exchange of ideas on civic leadership.

They are part of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. The program that started in 2014 invites 700 leaders, ages 25-35 from 49 Sub-Saharan African countries to the United States each year.

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Mandela Washington fellows from Africa sharpen leadership skills in Boise, Idaho

Doctors, lawyers and public servants from Africa are in the City of Trees for six weeks.

By Shirah Matsuzawa


BOISE, Idaho — What could be learned in Boise and brought back to Africa? Twenty-five young African leaders are in the City of Trees to find out.  They’re here as part of the U.S. State Department’s Mandela Washington Fellowship. 

The goal is to exchange ideas and perspectives with each other and Americans in hopes of taking that knowledge back home. The program began in 2014, but this is the first time fellows have come to Boise.

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