Applications for Mandela Washington Fellowship for young African leaders now open |24 August 2023
Young, accomplished Seychellois leaders who are actively engaged in business or entrepreneurship, civic engagement and public service can now apply for the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders programme.
The programme which is designed to build skills and empower fellows to lead in their respective sectors and communities, will provide up to 700 young leaders from the continent with an opportunity to follow a comprehensive executive-style programme in the United States, in the summer of 2024.
Applicants aged 25 to 35 years old who demonstrate commitment to public or community service, volunteerism, or mentorship, possess strong social and communication skills, and who are dedicated to serving their communities through their skills and abilities are encouraged to apply, before the September 12 deadline. Exceptional applicants aged 21 to 24 will also be considered.
Applicants must be proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English, have an energetic, positive, and flexible attitude, in addition to being able to demonstrate that they are able to work with others in diverse groups, and to respect the opinions of others
The Fellowship is an opportunity to participate in a six-week leadership Institute at a college or university, whereby Fellows can share experiences and learn from US citizens and other counterparts. Through meetings with the US government, civic and business leaders, and the exploration of industries, they can expand their expertise, as well as strengthening their work through new connections, skills, and ideas.
Once the application process closes, selected semifinalists will be interviewed by local US embassies and consulates, between the months of November up until January 2024. Applicants will be notified of their status in March, and those who are successful will have to complete the necessary visa processing, and attend an in-country orientation, before departing for the programme which will begin in June 2024.
Over the years, a number of Seychellois youths have had the opportunity to take part in the programme.
Mervin Pool, Aaron Bonnelame, Fabianna Bonne, Karine Rassool and Vanessa Telemaque were selected in 2016.
In 2017, Malshini Senaratne, Errol Renaud, Sylvanna Antat and Denis Antat were selected, and followed programme with the Rutgers State University of New Jersey, University of California-Davies, and the University of Maine.
Yannick Vel and Anaël Bodwell were the lucky two selected for the 2022 Mandela Washington Fellowship programme, while Nissa Thompson and Sarentha Luther made the cut for the 2023 programme.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the flagship programme of the US Government’s Young African Leaders Initiative (Yali). Yali was created in 2010 and celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2020.
Established in 2014, the Mandela Washington Fellowship has brought nearly 6,500 young leaders from every country in Sub-Saharan Africa to the United States for academic and leadership training.
Laura Pillay
