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Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders (YALI)

BSU Hosts 25 of Africa’s Bright, Emerging Leaders

The Mandela Washington Fellowship, the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), empowers young African leaders through academic coursework, leadership training, mentoring, networking, professional opportunities, and local community engagement. YALI was created in 2010 and supports young Africans as they spur economic growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa. Since 2014, the U.S. Department of State has supported nearly 5,800 Mandela Washington Fellows from across Sub-Saharan Africa to develop their leadership skills and foster connections and collaboration with U.S. professionals. The cohort of Fellows hosted by Bridgewater State University will be part of a group of 700 Mandela Washington Fellows hosted at 28 educational institutions across the United States.

After their Leadership Institutes, Fellows will participate in the Mandela Washington Fellowship Summit, where they will take part in networking and panel discussions with each other and with U.S. leaders from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Following the Summit, up to 100 competitively selected Fellows will participate in four weeks professional development with U.S. non-governmental organizations, private companies, and government agencies.

Funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and implemented by IREX, Leadership Institutes will offer programs that will challenge, motivate, and empower young leaders from Africa to tackle the challenges of the 21st century.

The 2023 Mandela Washington Fellowship program will run at Bridgewater State University from June 21–July 28.

In the News...

Emerging African Leaders Celebrate America
Mandela fellows take part in July 4th parade, local food and Americana.

5 for Good: Bridgewater volunteers sew dresses for girls around the world
Local Dress a Girl Around the World chapter brings joy, dignity to children across the globe.

African group hears about Attleboro's reentry program for convicts
A group of professionals from Africa who are part of a program at Bridgewater State University were recently given a presentation on a city initiative to help convicts from the Bristol County House of Correction ease their way back into society.

Bridgewater State University to Host 2023 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders
Bridgewater State University is proud to announce its selection as an Institute Partner for the 2023 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. Beginning in mid-June, BSU will host 25 of Africa’s bright, emerging Public Management leaders for a six-week Leadership Institute, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.

Please contact MandelaWashingtonFellows@bridgew.edu with any questions.

Two Mandela Washington Fellows smiling for the camera at the Bridgewater 4th of July parade; one holds the flags of the U.S. and Mauritius
Dr. Wing-kai To and Vincent Pellegrino holding up Bridgewater signs to greet the Fellows at Logan Airport
Mandela Washington Fellows smile and pose while on a duck boat tour of the Charles River

Partners

The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is a program of the U.S. government and is supported in its implementation by IREX. Bridgewater State University is a sub-grantee of IREX and is supporting the U.S.-based academic program of the Fellowship.

USA
Dept. of State
IREX
MWF