Professional Development Experiences

Professional Development Experiences (PDEs) offer enriching opportunities for U.S. organizations and communities to participate in a collaborative exchange by hosting young African professionals for substantive work experiences that explore issues and workplace culture from U.S. and African perspectives. Both Fellows and Hosts benefit from discussing shared issues and challenges in their sectors, broadening their perspectives, and positioning U.S. organizations for international engagement. From 2014 to 2019, Fellows completed 125,000 hours of professional training at almost 250 companies, organizations, and government agencies in 29 states and the District of Columbia.


PDEs provide U.S. companies, non-profits, and government agencies with a unique opportunity to gain a global perspective on their work while offering a tailored experience to an accomplished young professional looking to share their expertise, hone transferable skills, and forge lasting professional relationships with their American counterparts. Mandela Washington Fellows are motivated to take their careers to the next level and share knowledge with their American peers and other future leaders across Africa.
Learn more about hosting a PDE.

2021 Professional Development Experience Hosts
- 3 Day Startup
- Accountability Lab
- Ad Hoc
- Africa Global Chamber of Commerce
- African Family Health Organization
- African Wildlife Foundation
- Agricycle Global Inc.
- All-In Cincinnati Equity Coalition
- American Association of People with Disabilities
- Atlantic Council
- Atlas Corps
- Beyond the Orphanage
- CARBON Group Global
- Catholic Relief Services
- Center for Mind and Culture
- Child Care Law Center
- Cincinnati Health Department
- City of Aurora, CO – Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
- City of Forest Hill, TX – City Planner and Development Committee
- City of Philadelphia, PA – Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services
- City of Phoenix, AZ – Water Services Department
- Clean Air Task Force
- Clemson University – Department of Agricultural Sciences
- Conservation International
- Council on American-Islamic Relations
- Curious Learning
- Deloitte
- D’Vash Organics
- Echoing Green
- Esri
- Gallaudet University
- Glenn Oaks Middle – Redesign Schools Louisiana
- Global Fund for Women
- Greater Austin Black Chamber of Commerce
- Harvard Law School Project on Disability
- Health Partners Plans
- Heliponix
- Hennepin County, MN – Housing and Economic Development
- House Foreign Affairs Committee
- Inclusive Development Partners
- Information Technology Disaster Resource Center
- International Republican Institute
- International Youth Foundation
- Madefor
- Microsoft Corporation
- Moody Nolan
- National Association of the Deaf
- National Society of Black Engineers
- New Mexico State University
- North Carolina A&T State University
- North Country Center for Independence
- Office of U.S. Senator Chris Coons
- Partnership Against Domestic Violence
- Peaceful Families Project
- Philanthropy Innovations
- Population Action International
- Public Health Management Corporation
- Recycle Ann Arbor
- SEED SPOT
- Spotify
- Stonington Public Schools
- Structured Strategies
- Sunrise Rotary Club – Plattsburgh, NY
- Task Force for Global Health
- Texas Health and Human Services Commission – IDD and Behavioral Health Services
- Texas Tech University
- TGR Foundation
- The Jüdische Kulturbund Project
- The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change
- Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition International (TASSC)
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service – Genetic Improvement for Fruits & Vegetables Laboratory
- U.S. Institute of Peace
- University of Maryland, College Park – Agricultural and Resource Economics
- University of Maryland LGBTQ+ Equity Center
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln – Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln – Extension
- University of Pennsylvania – School of Nursing
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center – Magee-Womens Hospital
- UPS
- Virginia Department of Corrections
- Vital Voices
- White Ribbon Alliance
