The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, begun in 2014, is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) that empowers young people through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking. In 2018, the Fellowship provided 700 outstanding young leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa with the opportunity to hone their skills at a U.S. college or university with support for professional development after they returned home.
The Fellows, who were between the ages of 25 and 35, had established records of accomplishment in promoting innovation and positive impact in their organizations, institutions, communities, and countries. In 2017, Fellows represented a diverse group of leaders from 48 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa. Fifty-one Fellows identified as having a disability, and 50 percent of Fellows were women.
Information and Resources
- Appalachian hosts 25 young African leaders for six-week institute, Appalachian Today, 7/10/18
- Appalachian to host 2018 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Appalachian Today, 2/15/18
- U.S. higher education institutions selected to host Mandela Washington Fellows- IREX, 2/1/18
- Frequently Asked Questions for Fellows
- Local Boone Area Resources for Fellows
- Meet our Staff
- Meet our Fellows
The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is a program of the U.S. Department of State, administered by IREX. Appalachian State University is a sub-grantee of IREX and is supporting the U.S.-based academic program of the Fellowship.
