A Program of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Official website of the U.S. Department of State's Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders
2021 Fellowship Alumnus Abdallah Mabrouck is the winner of the Mandela Washington Fellowship Catalyst Grant, a unique funding opportunity for 2021 Fellowship Alumni that funds initiatives that catalyze change and distribute proven poverty interventions.
Learn MoreA photo essay by 2021 Leadership Impact Award Winner, Ian Tarimo on harnessing the power of creative storytelling and media technology.
Learn MoreThe U.S. Department of State and IREX are pleased to announce the eight U.S. educational institutions selected to host 2022 Alumni Enrichment Institutes, an opportunity for 2021 Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni to travel to the United States in summer 2022.
Learn MoreRead about the recently completed virtual Professional Development Experiences.
Learn MoreIn the landlocked country of Lesotho, many remote communities lack access to healthcare and education services. 2021 Fellowship Alumna Mamello Makhele has committed herself to bridging this divide.
Learn MoreThe Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the flagship program of the U.S. 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 5,100 young leaders from every country in Sub-Saharan Africa to the United States for academic and leadership training. The Fellows, between the ages of 25 and 35, are accomplished innovators and leaders in their communities and countries.
Learn MoreThe Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX.
Eight young African social entrepreneurs received a total of $200,000 in grant funding from the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
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March 15, 2022
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January 19, 2022
“I believe that the Mandela Washington Fellowship has made me a stronger and better leader and has challenged me to think outside the box… There can only be more, bigger, and better to come from me, my fellow Fellows, and the continent of Africa as a whole.”
– Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumna
The 2022 Fellowship Application closed in September 2021. Learn more about the 2022 Fellowship selection timeline and process, eligibility information, and more. We can't wait to meet the next Mandela Washington Fellows!
Learn moreApplication Closed
Semifinalists interviewed by local U.S. embassies and consulates
Applicants are notified of their status
Finalist visa processing and Pre-Departure Orientations
Fellowship begins in the United States
2022 Fellowship Summit takes place
Including Fellows, Reciprocal Exchange Participants, and U.S. Partners
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