Oct. 22, 2025
BRIDGEWATER, MA – The 2025 Mandela Washington Fellows from the Public Management track at Bridgewater State University (BSU) reunited virtually this month for the YALI Online Conference, held under the powerful theme: “Moving Forward with Impact.”
This special event served as a reconnection point for the Fellows following their six-week leadership residency in the United States. The conference focused on leveraging their shared experiences to drive sustainable change across Africa through collaborative leadership, innovation, and community engagement.
Dr. Jakari Griffith, BSU’s Fellowship Director, opened the conference with a message of reflection and purpose:
“We’re here to honor the journey. And the thing about journeys is that they are ongoing, they serve a purpose, and they move us toward a destination.”
He continued: “We wanted to charge this group with special leadership responsibilities, ones that may enable us to connect with the entire diaspora through other YALI cohorts. The purpose of today’s reconvening was to collaborate, sustain the energy, and, most importantly, uphold the legacy that is YALI.”
The Mandela Washington Fellowship, the flagship program of the U.S. Department of State’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), provides outstanding young leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa with academic coursework, leadership training, and networking opportunities in the U.S. It is implemented by IREX, with Bridgewater State University proudly hosting its Public Management cohort.
The virtual conference allowed fellows to reflect, reset, and reignite their commitment to civic leadership.
Dr. Kaleab Dereje Workagegnehu (Ethiopia) spoke about the personal growth the program sparked:
“My journey at BSU has been truly transformative. It felt like looking into a mirror; I built meaningful connections in the U.S. and began mentoring others along the way.”
Ms. Mamie Oliva Abraham (Madagascar) offered another inspiring story:
“I led a university orientation and leadership session for 30 students, inspired by the U.S. Leadership Impact Model, and hosted free virtual meetings with my Bridgewater State University network.”
Dr. Jessica Leonor Sampaio Balde (Guinea-Bissau) highlighted the tangible outcomes of her post-residency work:
“Since returning from BSU, I’ve applied what I learned. I recently started a project to rebuild a school and support people with hearing impairments, and I’ve already raised some funds.”
Mr. Aobakwe Bacos Malejane (Botswana) shared a progress update:
“The project I proposed during my Ignite talk is now underway.”
Ms. Fosuhemaa Abena Apenteng (Ghana) reflected on the value of the academic experience:
“Coming to Bridgewater State University to learn about leadership and how to hone in; it was an incredible opportunity.”
The cohort also received praise from Jay Ash, President and CEO, Massachusetts Competitive Partnership and a supporter of the program:
“As an outsider, I see this program as a tribute to Bridgewater State, proving that even after it ended, the commitment lives on. We all share the goal of fostering responsible citizens and credible leaders who mentor the next generation and elevate our world.”
President Fredrick Clark’s Remarks: A Global Homecoming
During the event, a heartfelt message was shared by a senior university leader, drawing connections between recent campus celebrations and the Fellows' virtual reunion:
“We had about 8,000 alumni and students and families all come together a couple of days ago in a joyful celebration of a community, a great community here at Bridgewater University. I look at all of you on the Zoom squares, and I think, well, this is another homecoming. It’s a version of homecoming with all our Mandela Fellows, Young African Leaders…Leadership Institute.”
President Clark reminded participants that community and connection remain vital:
“I remind us of what I said to all our alumni a couple of days ago, and that is that as alums of Bridgewater State, and we all are on these Zoom squares, it’s up to us to make sure that we stay connected to each other. That we stay engaged with each other’s lives and careers, as Jay just mentioned, and that we find ways to lean in to help each other. Like families do, because this really is a very large, extended, global family of people.”
Dr. Jibril Solomon, Associate Professor of Social Work and Academic Director of the program also reinforced BSU’s ongoing commitment to the fellows:
“They've really captured the essence of what we are trying to do: continue to support you.”
Mr. Vinny DeMacedo, Senior Advisor for External Relations at BSU, challenged the fellows with a powerful question:
“Was the time we spent together valuable? And if it was, how can we build on that momentum to create a lasting impact in the world?”
As part of the BSU Bears alumni community, the fellows reflected on lessons learned and shared practical strategies for leading in government, nonprofits, and civil society across the continent.
Other Mandela Institute staff that attended the conference included Dr. Mia Ortiz, Academic Director; Ms. Susan Williams, Mandela Financial Coordinator; Mr. Ismael Kahiu, Program Coordinator; Ms. Sasha Link, Communications Coordinator; and Ms. Irina Carvalho, Logistics Coordinator.
Learn more about the Mandela Washington Fellowship and how Bridgewater State University supports international leadership development. For more information about the program, visit mandelawashingtonfellowship.org.
Media Contact:
Ms. Sasha Link, Marketing Assistant
Bridgewater State University
The Minnock Institute for Global Engagement
E: slink@bridgew.edu
T: 508.531.2437