Deadline: November 5, 2014
The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) will be accepting applications for the 2015 Mandela Washington Fellowship soon. On July 28, 2014, in front of 500 exceptional young leaders, President Obama announced the renaming of the Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders in honor of Nelson Mandela. The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders will reach 1,000 participants by 2016.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of the President’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) and embodies President Obama’s commitment to invest in the future of Africa. The Fellowship currently brings 500 of Africa’s most dynamic young leaders, ages 25-35, to the United States for six weeks of leadership training, networking, and mentoring at twenty top U.S. universities in three areas: business and entrepreneurship, civic engagement and public administration.
Upon returning to their home countries, the Fellows will have access to professional development opportunities, mentoring, networking, training, and seed funding to support their ideas, businesses, and organizations. They will continue to build the skills they developed during their U.S. coursework. YALI regional coordinators based at U.S. Embassies throughout Africa will provide Fellows with several tools to support their continued work.
Benefits
The YALI is an unparalleled opportunity to…
- Interact with President Obama at a Presidential Summit in Washington, D.C.;
- Participate in a 6-week leadership and mentoring program at a U.S. institution;
- Meet with U.S. government, civic, and business leaders;
- Access exceptional internship and apprenticeship opportunities;
- Expand your business or project through access to millions of dollars for small grant funding; and
- Join a continent-wide and global alumni network to help you seek innovative solutions to common challenges.
Eligibility
- Be a citizen of and reside in a sub-Saharan African country. Persons holding U.S. citizenship or permanent residency are ineligible.
- Speak and write proficiently in English.
- Be between 25-35 years of age at the time of application submission, although exceptional candidates younger than 25 will be considered.
- Have a proven record of leadership and accomplishment in public service, business or entrepreneurship, or civic engagement.
- Demonstrate a commitment to public or community service, volunteerism, or mentorship.
- Be committed to return to Africa and contribute their skills and talents to build and serve their communities.
Participating countries
Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Republic of the Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
NOTE: The 2015 application with more information will be available on October 7th 2014.
For more information, keep an eye here at Opportunity Desk and visit Young African Leaders Initiative website.
