2024 Washington Mandela Washington Fellowship: Applications are open! |02 September 2023
The US Embassy is happy to announce the opening of the application cycle for the 2024 Washington Mandela Washington Fellowship.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship provides future African leaders the opportunity to hone their skills at a US higher education institution through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking in the fields of business, civic engagement, and public management. Each year, some 700 fellows from across sub-Saharan Africa are selected to travel to the United States to participate in a six-week program at select US colleges and universities.
In 2023, two Fellows, Sarentha Luther and Nissa Thompson, were selected from Seychelles. They had the opportunity to share their experience with other Fellows from across Africa and network with US representatives from the government, local NGO communities, and businesses.
Sarentha Luther, psychologist in Seychelles, said “The Mandela Washington Fellowship is a transformative and great learning opportunity. The biggest thing I learned was that: Leadership is an activity, not a title. You can lead wherever you are and in whatever job you do. This lesson will empower me in my personal life, my career, and my leadership journey moving forward.”
Nissa Thompson said, “Being a Mandela Washington Fellowship alumna, I have highly benefitted from the leadership in public management track, which has enabled me to learn more about my strengths and how I can apply them in my professional life. I have also expanded my leadership skills and experience through networking with the fellows and the community at the university that I attended, as well as academic and practical sessions.”
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is part of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), the US Government's signature effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders, which started in 2010.To apply for the 2024 Fellowship, candidates are encouraged to visit the U.S. Embassy Facebook page (@usinseychelles) or website (sc.usembassy.gov).
Press release from the US embassy